News
NAV CANADA and Sensis Corp. sign technology contract with Airservices Australia

March 17, 2009, Ottawa – Technology provided jointly by NAV CANADA and Sensis Corporation has been selected by Airservices Australia for their new program to upgrade three air traffic control towers, with the potential for additional towers in the Australian Air Navigation system (ANS).

NAV CANADA will work with Sensis in the design and delivery of an integrated Air Traffic Control (ATC) solution for the Airservices’ National Tower Program Technology Project.

The project’s overall objective is to provide controllers with immediate access to flight data and voice communications and to monitor the airfield and surrounding airspace.

“Airservices’ tower modernization project provided an opportunity to ensure our controllers had the latest tools and technology to ensure we meet our obligations to provide safe, efficient air traffic operations well into the future,” Airservices CEO Greg Russell said.

The Sensis/NAV CANADA team will initially install this solution at three airports – Melbourne, Adelaide and Rockhampton – and at Airservices Australia’s Melbourne Air Traffic Centre and Learning Academy.
The NAV CANADA technology, already in use at international airports such as Heathrow and Copenhagen, is a leading-edge Canadian system for the management of flight data in towers and terminal environments.

“I can’t think of a more perfect match for this technology than Airservices Australia,” said John Crichton, NAV CANADA President and CEO. “We are pleased to have been chosen for this important modernization project, and we look forward to working with Sensis and with Airservices Australia.”
The Sensis/NAV CANADA solution is known as the Integrated Tower Automation Suite (INTAS). Using NAV CANADA technology that combines flight data, operational data, surveillance, and voice communications, INTAS will provide air traffic controllers with an environment that enhances safety and efficiency, and reduces controller workload.

NAV CANADA will use its expertise in tower-based Air Traffic Management systems to provide application software, system design, associated development and integration, testing, and training.
Sensis will leverage its expertise as an Advanced – Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) provider and integrator and serve as the prime contractor responsible for engineering authority, project management, installation and support organization.

A fully digital voice communications subsystem, supplied by SolaCom Technologies, will be incorporated directly into the INTAS flight information management system for air-ground/ground-ground communications.

Said Tony Lo Brutto, Vice President and General Manager of Sensis Air Traffic Systems: “INTAS provides controllers with an environment that easily adapts to the existing operational requirements and procedures. The advantage of INTAS is its ability to scale and adapt to any tower environment and be deployed at any airport regardless of size or traffic level.”

INTAS features an integrated controller working position comprised of up to four touch screen monitors that provide NAV CANADA technology such as: the Extended Computer Display System (EXCDS) Electronic Flight Strips; the Operational Information Display System (OIDS) to monitor and control airfield ground lighting, monitor navigational aids, and weather data; a Digital – Automatic Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS) and terminal surveillance displays. Surface surveillance will be provided by the Sensis A-SMGCS system at Melbourne.