Esterline to supply ATC Displays to Eurocontrol's Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre

Esterline’s Advanced Displays business unit is pleased to announce that EUROCONTROL has reconfirmed its trust in the Belgian specialty display manufacturer and ordered about 200 new air traffic control (ATC) main displays (both 2K x 2K and 4K x 2K formats) to replace the existing Esterline (previously Barco) solutions, which have been in service 24/7 for more than 10 years at its Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUAC).

MUAC ensures that aircraft flying in the upper airspace (above FL245 ≈ 7.5 km) over Benelux and north-west Germany can do so safely and efficiently. The air traffic controllers at MUAC have been monitoring the upper airspace using Esterline ATC displays for more than a decade. Given the extensive usage of the displays and in order to preserve optimal service levels, MUAC decided to upgrade its existing display fleet. After an extensive selection and trial round, it again chose Esterline as its premium ATC-grade display supplier.

Optical performance and flexibility

“We chose Esterline displays on account of their outstanding optical performance,” says Wim Lentjes, Project Manager at MUAC. “Our controllers especially appreciate the wide viewing angle. It allows them to see the same details, within the same perspective, from any position. Moreover, Esterline’s advanced displays ensure high contrast, very low reflection and no color shift. The combination of all these assets ensures the clearest possible view on the airspace.”

Flexibility and ease-of-management were two other main factors influencing MUAC’s choice of Esterline’s main displays. Air traffic controllers can easily view content from multiple sources on their screens, while each display can be controlled, monitored and diagnosed remotely to ensure that each and every display works flawlessly at all times.

Full UHD 4K x 2K display

Shipment of the new displays from the Kortrijk, Belgium, facilities to Maastricht began at the end of 2018, when Esterline delivered 100 of the 180 square 2K x 2K main displays ordered. In addition to the square displays, Esterline also delivered 15 wide-screen (43-inch) ultra-high definition (UHD) 4Kx2K main displays for use in supervisor positions. 

Controllers use the 2K x 2K displays to view radar images. Auxiliary information, such as flight data, flight schedules, communications, weather info and conflict detection data, are shown on smaller side screens in a typical triptych setup. The 43-inch display replaces four smaller displays. “As the amount of information and tools is continuously increasing, it is extremely practical to have additional viewing surface. By consolidating all the information from different sources onto a single seamless screen, the new display is a more ergonomic solution. It enhances user comfort and reduces eye fatigue,” Nick Miller, MUAC Operations Manager explains.

A true market leader

Since Barco introduced its MDP-471 main radar display in 2000, it has been the world’s leading ATC display: the square 2K x 2K display is used in 7 out of 10 air traffic control centers around the world. For Esterline’s product team in Belgium, this new contract win proves that its advanced display products continue to fulfill the high expectations and stringent requirements of the air traffic community. “As a trusted and long-time partner to EUROCONTROL, we are very proud that our ATC-grade display solutions were selected and look forward to support the MUAC team of controllers for at least another decade,” says Frank Timmermans, President, Esterline Advanced Displays.