Successful VCS switch-over at Edinburgh

An important result has been achieved in recent days at Edinburgh Airport. Air Navigation Solutions (ANSL), the resident Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), successfully completed the transition to the new Voice Communication System (VCS) provided by SITTI. The old system, which has been serving the Scottish capital for many years, has been definitively switched off in favour of a new modern Voice over IP (VoIP) system.

SITTI, world leading supplier of VCS systems, has been awarded the supply of a full standard compliant new voice switching solution that represents a big step forward for the modernization of the local Air Traffic Control (ATC) infrastructure. This big success is the result of three concurrent and integrated aspects, which greatly contributed to the final result:

1. the VCS itself, the best solution on the market for the management of airport ATC
2. the high level of professionalism of ANSL staff
3. collaboration between ANSL and SITTI personnel which enabled the switch over to take place in spite of challenges created by Covid-19

A similar project is underway at Gatwick, the London airport managed by ANSL, where another similar VCS is completing its fine tuning to shortly become fully operational.

Both systems belong to the MULTIFONO® M800IP® family developed by SITTI in full accordance with the latest standards in the air management and air traffic control fields issued by EUROCONTROL and EUROCAE, with special focus on the ED-137 VoIP standard, which M800IP® is fully compliant to. M800IP® systems have undergone countless interoperability tests and operational assessments around the globe, offering advanced interfacing capabilities, reliability and flexibility. These VCS systems are equipped with interface units for connecting both digital and analogue radios and telephones and converting them to standard ED-137 VoIP links.

The VCS replacement at Edinburgh and Gatwick is driven by ANSL’s commitment to providing a very high level of service to airports and airlines through innovation and future proof solutions for integrated and efficient air traffic management processes. The productive collaboration between ANSL and SITTI made it possible to tackle the sometimes complex operational aspects and situations in the Air Traffic Control field, where the main focus is to ensure and increase flight safety.