The new radar system at Ronaldsway - still yet to get final approval from the Civil Aviation Authority - is ‘probably one of the best deals government has ever struck’.
That’s the view of Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne who was quizzed in the House of Keys over delays with the replacement radar.
The £3.2m project, the first of its kind to be used in the British Isles, was approved by Tynwald in December 2010. But while the new primary and secondary radars installed by Selex are functioning they still don’t yet have UK CAA approval.
Peter Karran (Lib Van, Onchan) asked if the taxpayer was protected and suggested the Minister refer this to the Public Accounts Committee.
Mr Gawne replied that Ronaldsway was unique in the British Isles for having four full functional radars. He blamed the delay on communications problems with the Italian contractor but we were now in the ‘home straight’ for getting CAA approval.
He insisted government was far from losing out and substantial sums had been secured from the company for failing to deliver. He added: ‘We are recouping much of the cost added to which we are having our old primary and secondary radar maintained at the expense of the contractor. So this probably one of the best deals that government had ever struck in terms of requirements on the contract.’