In less than six months after it was purchased, the only radar at Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madina, which automatically guides pilots to the runway, has broken down. The cost of the radar is SR60 million. A navigational air source said that the radar had previously stopped functioning several times, sometimes for up to six hours. This has resulted in the navigation authorities not using it at all even though there are no reserve radars to direct air traffic. “The Civil Aviation Authority found it necessary to go back to the traditional tower navigation run by the air controllers.” The authorities at Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport have sought the help of a team specializing in radar maintenance from King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah to repair the damage. Atef Tassiji, Director of Public Relations at the Madina airport, said the radar is still subject to the manufacturing company's trial period. The company will be notified accordingly, he said.
