VoIP VCS & Radio operational in BUCHAREST ACC

The Rohde&Schwarz R&SSeries4200 VoIP enabled transmitters and receivers are now complementing the IP VCS system from Rohde&Schwarz Topex SA, commissioned in 2008, rendering it the worlds first 100% VoIP based VCS  which is compliant with the ED137 standards, defined by EUROCAE for the usage of VoIP in Air Traffic Communication scenarios.

The installation is part of a strategic extension program to increase flexibility in sharing the A/G communication infrastructure. Based on a complete distributed IP architecture from the controller working positions to the radios this technical solution no longer focuses on a central element as in older implementations requiring a TDM switch. The VCS controller working positions located in Arad and the VoIP enabled radios from Timisoara and Oradea are interconnected by ROMATSAs common unified ATC IP infrastructure marking also its 10th year of continuous operation.

This allows ROMATSA to increase the capacity of the new VHF network step-by-step as the demand is growing, without the need for any upfront investment. The daily work experience of controllers and pilots have shown no difference of perception (including quality, delay and reliability) when comparing traditional TDM based Voice Communication Systems to VoIP.

"For ROMATSA, the key for deploying a distributed IP-based voice communication system was to continue delivering seamless high quality ATC services to our customers while continuously evolving and redefining ourselves," the Director General of ROMATSA Mr. Donciu said.

ROMATSAs decade long successful experience of using VoIP in real ATC applications together with the worldwide adoption of EUROCAE WG67 standards gives the signal to the entire ANSP community that this technology is mature enough, thus ready for operational deployment.