References

IAA / ISAVIA

In terms of safety and efficiency, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and ISAVIA of Iceland operate one of the world's most demanding operational ATC scenarios over the North Atlantic. Shanwick OCA handles in excess of 400,000 aircraft movements annually and Reykjavik OCA handles some 100,000 aircraft per year. The CERTIUM® VCS-4G systems are set up as two independent systems. One is located in ISAVIA's communications center in Gufunes, Iceland, and the other in IAA's communications center in Ballygirreen, Ireland. The direct IP link between the two voice communications systems allows advanced scenarios such as sharing of air-ground and ground-ground resources as well as virtual center operation.

In a world-first deployment, the solution enables virtual ATC center operation. ISAVIA and IAA can operate their individual control centers in Gufunes and Ballygirreen on demand in joint operation mode, sharing radio and telephony communications resources as if they were in a single ATC center. The systems have now been in operation for a few years, and the two ANSPs have reported a significant improvement in staff satisfaction as well as resource utilization since they can now react flexibly to volatility in traffic volumes. Over the North Atlantic, flight routes regularly change between more northern and more southern routes in order to avoid the seasonal changes of the jet stream. Now the two ANSPs operate as one network and handle traffic volumes jointly in their two flight information regions (FIR).

NAV CANADA

In July 2019, following an extensive supplier evaluation, NAV CANADA awarded Rohde & Schwarz a contract to supply 17 HF transmitter systems, each with an output power of 4 kW, for voice communications in its mission-critical North Atlantic operations. The HF system being implemented is part of the R&S®M3SR Series4100 software defined radio (SDR) family, specifically the R&S®XK4100. It is also equipped with the new ED-137 IP interface. These radios follow the requirements of the EUROCAE ED-137 international standard for voice over IP (VoIP) air traffic management (ATM) applications. The transmitters will support NAV CANADA HF communications for decades. NAV CANADA provides ATC and related services for Canadian domestic and international airspace, and uses long-haul, beyond-the-horizon communications for aircraft flying in northern Canada and flights to and from Europe over the North Atlantic Ocean.

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (China)

Rohde & Schwarz is installing more than 240 R&S®Series4200 VHF/UHF radios and 17 controller working positions at the new Chengdu Tianfu International Airport, ordered by the Southwest Regional Air Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). The solution will enable reliable air traffic control and ensure a high level of safety for airlines and passengers. To support operations, 120 VHF channels will be operated from the control center. These channels are distributed across 13 sites throughout the Chengdu control area, providing five services: regional control, approach control, ground control, tower control and multiflight airway control.

Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS)

Rohde & Schwarz installed more than 240 R&S®Series4200 VHF/UHF radios at Singapore Changi Airport, including at the new radio stations at Changi East. Besides providing high-quality voice connections between pilots and air traffic controllers, these radios also offer the new functionality of detection of simultaneous transmissions (DSiT). With the acquisition of these radios, CAAS will be the first air navigation service provider in Asia-Pacific to adopt DSiT. As part of the contract, Rohde & Schwarz will provide CAAS with auxiliary equipment, software, project management, training as well as after-sales services for a 15-year period.