LVNL selects FREQUENTIS tower system for SESAR deployment

Frequentis has been selected by LVNL (Air Traffic Control the Netherlands) to deploy a tower system in accordance with the Pilot Common Project (PCP) regulations driving the SESAR deployment, thereby replacing and upgrading existing systems and delivering the company’s electronic flight strips system. The contract involves a development partnership for up to 25 years, ensuring LVNL is able to deploy the required ATM functions supporting airport integration and throughput.

“Safe and efficient daily operations are top priority. Professional controllers need professional tools. With the proven tower system of Frequentis, we will improve the safety and efficiency of the Schiphol tower operations. A welcome and necessary innovation that will enable us to safely accommodate the growth of air traffic in the future”, said Michiel van Dorst, CEO of LVNL.

LVNL is in charge of providing civil air traffic service control in the Netherlands. The current tower system of LVNL is used in all the three towers of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol – the central tower, tower West and the emergency tower. Schiphol is the main civil airport in the Netherlands and one of the busiest airports of Europe. In 2016 around 479,000 aircraft movements were handled with an hourly peak capacity of about 110 movements.

Frequentis won the tender due to having the most economically advantageous tender. With its substantial expert engineering force across the group, complemented by partner eco-systems, the company proves to be the ideal partner to deploy these new tower systems in accordance with PCP regulations. The current LVNL tower systems will be replaced with commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) products, which enable a much easier implementation of new functionalities.

Within this contract, Frequentis will also provide its electronic flight strips system “smartSTRIPS”. Replacing paper strips, this solution combines exceptional usability with electronic data connection. “Already deployed on five continents, this solution covers installations from two to more than ninety controller working positions”, explained Hannu Juurakko, Vice President ATM Civil at Frequentis. “smartSTRIPS will enable the digitalisation of paper strips, paving the way for further automation and providing improved situational awareness for controllers. The new tower solution for LVNL will see the full innovative strength of the Frequentis Group and we are honoured to be trusted as the provider”, Hannu Juurakko added.