PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) -- Installation of a new radar began Tuesday at Palm Springs International Airport, where the old system broke down a year ago.

The replacement Airport Surveillance Radar-9 will be operational in January, in time for Palm Springs' peak traffic season, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The installation by the FAA and Northrop Grumman Corp. will use existing structures and conduits, and its new fiber optics cables will deliver signals directly to screens at the terminal radar approach control facility, an FAA statement said.

The old radar began breaking down in December 1999 and then had to be shut down. Marine Corps specialists were brought in during January to set up a military radar system.

Funds for the new radar were appropriated by Congress in October.

The FAA said the ASR-9 is more user-friendly, will ease air traffic controllers' workloads and will be more useful in emergencies. The system also can reliably detect aircraft positions under extreme conditions.

SacBee

-- Anonymous, December 20, 2000