Norwegian oil rig benefits from FREQUENTIS voice communication system to support critical helicopter flights

Avinor Air Navigation Services, the Norwegian air navigation service provider, will supply the Frequentis IP voice communication system (VCS) for a major oil field in the North Sea. The system allows safe control and coordination of all helicopter flights in the region, supporting the essential and timely provision of critical resources.

The oil rig in question is a vast complex of platforms and structures creating a transportation hub for surrounding oil fields. Frequentis has installed its VCS3020X for seven off-shore controller working positions in its control centre. Two additional remote on-shore positions are located at Stavanger, in Western Norway, connected via an undersea fibre optic cable, more than 100 kilometres away from the main off-shore VCS servers.

“The new VCS from Frequentis will be an important component in our delivery of critical infrastructure in the Norwegian airspace. We chose Frequentis due to their expertise in the VCS technology and we look forward to using their system in our operations,” says Ellen Lystad, Executive Vice President of Technology Services in Avinor Air Navigation Services.

The Frequentis VCS3020X is a fully redundant IP VCS, with exceptionally high availability, flexibility, performance, and feature maturity. The system is easy to install, maintain and operate, while having the highest track record for reliability in the market, making it extremely suitable for safety-critical applications and remote locations such as oil rigs.

As well as being Avinor Air Navigation Services long-term partner for VCS systems in area control centres and towers, Frequentis is also a trusted long-term partner of Norwegian Public Safety network Nødnett, supporting all kinds of safety critical sea – land – air communications. A high level of interoperability between Frequentis communication platforms enables timely and efficient coordination of Nødnett blue light forces with Telenor Coastal Radio, ensuring joint rescue coordination missions, as well as safe integration of drones into the airspace.

“Being the world market-leader in VCS deployments, Frequentis is pleased to support air transportation safety in the energy and oil industry, ensuring safe air traffic control services on an oil platform by enhancing its communication infrastructure. Despite challenging conditions and COVID-19 restrictions, the system was successfully put into operation as planned,” says Hannu Juurakko, Frequentis Vice President ATM Civil and Chairman of the ATM Executive team.