Journal OACI

No. 1

Based on a study undertaken by the Air Ministry of Brazil in 1968, it was decided to integrate the nation's civil and military air traffic control systems to minimize cost and maximize performance. These radar antennas installed at Pico do Couto, Petropolis, near Rio de Janeiro, form part of this integrated air defense and air traffic control (DACTA) system; the mountain-top installation services the areas encompassing Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. The overall AIRCAT system developed by Thomson-CSF is capable of handling 5000 daily flight plans, of which 600 occur regularly during peak periods. It can also handle some 150 movements simultaneously. This installation represents the first phase in a master plan to cover the entire country.