DFS system "Phoenix" starts operations at Almaty International Airport

It was chosen for air traffic control service in their new contingency tower at Almaty International Airport. The system went into operation at the end of last year. Thus, the software development and implementation of Phoenix were conducted on schedule within the length of one year. DFS was entrusted with the work by the Kazakh system provider Technology Information Systems (TIS) that had won the tender from Kazaeronavigatsia to provide a new tower and approach system.

PHOENIX has been configured to process and display sensor data for approach and aerodrome control at Almaty International Airport, but the system can also be used for en-route, ground control and taxiing guidance. The heart of the system is the tracker which processes sensor and position data from up to a total of fifty sensors.

DFS has equipped four working positions in the contingency tower with Phoenix; this includes safety net functions. If the primary system in the control tower experiences a failure, three controllers and a supervisor can continue to control arriving and departing traffic at the airport. A further working position can be used to process flight plan data, NOTAM and weather data, which is exchanged worldwide using the AFTN. Additionally, there is a working position to monitor the system and the hardware. Another special working position is equipped so that certain operational situations can be recorded and replayed as required. To round it all off, DFS also conducted system training for Kazakh technicians and air traffic controllers.

"We are very satisfied with the new system. The integration went very well. The precision, performance and flexibility of the tracker allow us to keep up capacity at the airport if we have to use the contingency tower," reported Dmitry Nikishin, system engineer from Kazaeronavigatsia.