Grant to improve Chile’s aviation system

Grant to improve ChileÆs aviation system    The U.S. Trade and Development Agency has issued a $623,000 grant to help Chile adopt new aviation safety technologies to meet increasing air traffic to the South American country.
   The grant was awarded on Tuesday to Chile’s Direcci'n General de Aeron'utica Civil (DGAC) to assist in developing a modernization plan that will identify technology options for improving aviation safety in the airspace between the airports of Cochrane and Puerto Montt in Southern Chile.
   “This agreement between USTDA and Chile continues our long-term support for programs in Chile that open new markets for U.S.-manufactured goods and services,” said USTDA Director Leocadia I. Zak.
   The DGAC is the government entity responsible for the management and oversight of air traffic in Chile. In response to increased air traffic demand and weather-related flight challenges in the region, the DGAC seeks to develop a surveillance system that may include the deployment of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast and local area augmentation system (LAAS) airspace technologies.
   The opportunity to provide the USTDA-funded assistance to DGAC will be competed on the Federal Business Opportunities Web site. Interested U.S. firms should submit proposals according to the instructions in the Federal Business Opportunities announcement. DGAC will select the U.S. firm that will develop the pilot program.