References

AirNav Ireland / ISAVIA

In terms of safety and efficiency, the AirNav Ireland 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 systems are set up as two independent systems. One is located in ISAVIA's communications center in Gufunes, Iceland, and the other in AirNav Ireland'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 AirNav Ireland 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).

Skyguide

Operational air traffic control (ATC) is paramount, especially in areas hit by disaster or other adverse impacts on critical infrastructure. Rohde & Schwarz mobile ATC shelters enable air navigation service providers (ANSP) to get safe air traffic operational in minimal time.

Rohde & Schwarz has recently, in close collaboration with Skyguide, developed and delivered a customized mobile ATC shelter as part of the Mobile ATC Radio System (M.A.R.S.) project. The shelter includes a complete CERTIUM radio system, as well as a unique 24 volt on-board battery system that enables the shelter to operate without power for three hours. Its lightweight design allows deployment either by helicopter or small truck with forklift, making it ideal for quick reaction to adverse conditions. A diesel-powered generator can be deployed in the second phase to ensure longer operation. Remote controlled by the R&S RCMS II umbrella software solution, engineering personnel can monitor these radios from one or more locations.

Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH (DFS)

DFS, Germany's national ANSP, turned to Rohde & Schwarz when renewing their entire nationwide radio network. This included replacing all existing radios with the R&S®Series4200 to comply with the EU directive that requires all radios to be capable of 8.33 kHz channel spacing. All radios are able to interface seamlessly with the VCS. Depending on the existing VCS, the radios can be connected with analog lines, a digital E1 interface or an ED-137 compliant voice over IP (VoIP) interface. At many sites, a unique redundancy system was implemented. The new radios are being monitored and managed with the R&S®RCMS II remote control and management system from Rohde & Schwarz, which also can monitor network components via SNMP. The renewal of the radio infrastructure involved more than 100 sites and over 4,000 radios. The project included system integration, installation, training and a long-term service and repair commitment with a comprehensive service

In 2018, DFS awarded Rohde & Schwarz a contract for R&S DF-ATC systems at the DFS center in Langen and five German airports (Nuremberg, Hamburg, Münster/Osnabrück, Stuttgart and Hanover). The systems increase the air traffic controller's situational awareness by clearly referencing calling aircraft on a radar screen.

These DF antennas are part of the new ATC direction finding solution (R&S DF-ATC), a system designed especially for ATC controllers that obtains accurate DF results for up to 32 channels in parallel. The system belongs to the larger CERTIUM LOCATE family.

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.