Harris Corporation to Supply Critical Air Traffic Control Communication for new Santa Barbara Airport in Chile

Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has been awarded a contract to provide a complete voice communications package for the new Santa Barbara Airport in Chile. 

Harris is supplying its Liberty-STAR™ Voice Communication and Control System (VCCS) to the new Santa Barbara Airport in the Biobio region of Chile.  Located in the city of Chaiten, the new airport will replace the former one destroyed by a volcano and flood in 2008.

Featuring a modular architecture, open-platform software and commercial-off-the-shelf hardware, Liberty-STAR™ VCCS delivers a reliable, scalable communications solution for air traffic control (ATC) towers, airline and area control dispatch, flight service stations, and mobile shelters.  The system will be equipped with touch-screen operator positions, radio interfaces, telephone interfaces, GPS Time Source, and a System Maintenance, Administration and Reconfiguration Terminal, or SMART POSITION™.  In addition to the voice communication system, Harris will also supply an integrated package of digital VHF radios, antennas and accessories.

Harris will also provide its Liberty-Radio Control Equipment (RCE) gateway solution—a device capable of emulating any radio link and broadcasting it over a variety of transmission mediums.  The Liberty-RCE will enable airport authorities to communicate in harsh conditions and in isolated environments where digital service is scarce and reliance on legacy links and older analog technology is still required. 

Harris will install the systems and provide operation and maintenance training for the air traffic controllers and technical staff. 

“Given the unique geographic and economic conditions that surround the area, Harris understands the role a safe, secure and efficient airport can play in a region like Santa Barbara,” said John O'Sullivan, vice president, Mission Critical Networks, Harris Government Communications Systems.  “Harris is a decades-long leader and has built a reputation based on delivering proven, reliable communications equipment for the civil aviation market.

Harris has extensive experience developing mission-critical solutions that support civil and military air traffic control operations worldwide, including more than 200 customers in 50 countries.  This contract represents Harris’ third in Chile and latest in South America having already supplied communications systems to a host of countries including Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil.