Integrated ATM and Airport Systems

Saab issued the following news today that the Integrated Tower Automation Suite (INTAS) is now operational at Melbourne Airport.

Airservices Australia Commissions Integrated Tower Automation Suite from Saab and NAV CANADA at Melbourne Airport.

Defense and security company Saab announced that Airservices Australia, the Air Navigation Service Provider for Australia, has commissioned into service the Integrated Tower Automation Suite (INTAS) at Melbourne Airport. Melbourne, Australia’s second busiest airport, is the fourth air traffic control (ATC) tower to receive the modern INTAS platform provided by Saab and NAV CANADA for the safe, efficient management of air traffic.

INTAS is part of Airservices Australia’s National Towers Program (NTP) initiative to modernize or replace the core ATC technology in its towers with a universal, flexible solution that meets current and future controller needs for safe, efficient operations. INTAS is also operational at Adelaide, Broome and Rockhampton airports.

Saab, along with partners NAV CANADA and Harris, developed INTAS on NAVCANatm technology that was modified to meet the specific needs of the NTP initiative. INTAS is a fully harmonized suite of ATC tools that provides Airservices controllers with a common, modern set of key ATC systems and capabilities in a single customizable platform. NAV CANADA provided a modified version of its NAVCANsuite of ATC tools, while Harris supplied the voice communications system, and Saab provided overall project management and system integration as well as integration of surface automation tools.

“INTAS has successfully met Airservices’ requirements for a modern, flexible air traffic control solution that can seamlessly scale to any size airport or any controller working position,” said Ken Kaminski, general manager of Saab ATM. “Providing controllers with a common set of tools helps ensure safety of operations, increases efficiency and streamlines training and maintenance.”

“The successful implementation of INTAS in Melbourne demonstrates its flexibility and capability to integrate flight data, advanced air field lighting control, and fused air and ground surveillance with safety logic in a large complex tower, ” said Sid Koslow, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at NAV CANADA.  “As an air traffic service provider and ATM systems developer, NAV CANADA is continuing to advance the INTAS Integrated Tower platform to meet current and Next Gen requirements in all types of single or multiple networked tower operations.”

INTAS is comprised of a Controller Working Position with up to four touchscreen monitors to display data and common input devices. The system integrates:

• Electronic Flight Strips
• Operational Data Management (monitoring and control of airfield ground lighting, navigational aids, weather and other related systems)
• Digital – Automatic Terminal Information Services (enabling controllers to construct the terminal information services messages)
• Voice Communication Control System
• Electronic Surveillance System (integrated terminal and surface surveillance on a common display)

The INTAS architecture supports any tower position (local, ground, clearance or supervisor) and is fully scalable to any size tower (from small regional airports such as Broome and Rockhampton to Australia’s major international hubs like Melbourne).

NAVCANsuite integrated tower automation products combine flight and operational data, surveillance and voice communications into a single customizable air traffic management system. NAVCANsuite products are in operation at more than 70 Canadian sites, and have been adopted internationally by the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Dutch Caribbean.  Additional projects are currently underway in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.

Saab serves the global market with world-leading products, services and solutions ranging from military defence to civil security. Saab has operations and employees on all continents and constantly develops, adopts and improves new technology to meet customers’ changing needs.