Melbourne Airport Operational with Sensis A-SMGCS

A-SMGCS (Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System) enhances the controllers ability to provide air traffic services for aircraft and vehicles during visual or low-visibility operations by fusing multiple surveillance technologies into a comprehensive view of the airports runways and taxiways. The Sensis A-SMGCS solution combines surveillance data received from Sensis multilateration, Multistatic Dependent Surveillance (MDS), Sensis Surface Movement Radar (SMRi) and Sensis VeeLo NextGen vehicle locators to provide the location and positive identification of all aircraft and vehicles in the movement and non-movement areas. The system also features Sensis Safety Logic conflict detection and alerting technology that alerts controllers in advance of any potential runway incursions. Additionally, the A-SMGCS integrates data from Airservices flight plan system and provides real-time surface traffic information to the en-route and terminal aerodrome automation system. All information is displayed for air traffic controllers on Sensis Controller Working Positions and is recorded for future playback. The Sensis A-SMGCS provides our controllers with a comprehensive view of aircraft and vehicles on the movement area along with the most advanced conflict detection and alerting technology available, said Jason Harfield, general manager of air traffic control, Airservices Australia. The systems accuracy enables us to enhance the safety at Melbourne while more efficiently managing surface traffic. Sensis A-SMGCS provides Airservices with a platform for future expansion to additional advanced control applications, such as airfield ground lighting control and taxi route conformance monitoring, said John Jarrell, vice president and general manager of Sensis Air Traffic Systems. The flexibility of the Sensis A-SMGCS means the system can easily accommodate future airport growth. Sensis is also deploying A-SMGCS in Australia to Brisbane, Perth and Sydney Airports. Airservices Australia is deploying Sensis Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) for terminal and en-route surveillance across Tasmania and to enhance terminal operations and precision runway monitoring at Sydney Airport. In March, Airservices Australia awarded Sensis a contract to design and deliver an integrated air traffic control solution for its National Tower Program (NTP) Technology Project.