World’s most advanced ATM system LORADS III goes live in Singapore

Thales Chairman & CEO Jean-Bernard Levy attended the  New Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre inauguration ceremony today, where Mr Lui Tuck Yew, Minister for Transport, and Mr Yap Ong Heng, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), inaugurated the New Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre (SATCC).  LORADS III is a key system of the new SATCC.

The system was handed over to CAAS in May 2013 and has now assumed full control of Singapore’s airspace following a successful deployment programme. 

LORADS III marks a generational shift in ATM technology. Building on previous successes in the region, including nationwide deployment in Taiwan and ongoing enhancements and upgrades to The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS), it will play a critical role in enabling CAAS to manage significant future air traffic growth in a safer, more efficient and environmentally friendly way. 

The system is ideally suited for Singapore and the region, as not only is Changi Airport the busiest hub in South East Asia, but Singapore is also at a strategic geographic junction, making its airspace one of the busiest in the world for long range air traffic en-route to hundreds of destinations. The country therefore requires a sophisticated system that effectively manages the balance between air traffic on approach to Changi and traffic to other destinations. 

“This strategic programme is the result of the successful collaboration between the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and our experts in order to deliver the world’s most advanced ATM system. As a major hub, Singapore is now future-proofed to meet the high growth in civil transport that is expected.  This is a milestone for Thales in Asia. It is testament that in the choice of critical infrastructure for civil air transport, Thales is the world’s most trusted partner. ”

Jean-Bernard Lévy, Thales Chairman & CEO

LORADS III is based on the Thales TopSky-ATC system, in service in over 130 of the busiest air traffic control centres in the world, making it the most successful air traffic management system for busy airspaces. 

Featuring significant levels of automation and sophistication, the technology and operational concepts of the TopSky-ATC system enable LORADS III to achieve the minimum permitted aircraft separation standards, resulting in quicker landings while enabling outbound traffic to continue on safely without delay, reducing both flight time and emissions. Combined with unprecedented system redundancy for continuous smooth operation, LORADS III provides CAAS with vital business continuity in all situations as well as other additional features developed specifically with Singapore’s needs in mind. The system is designed to meet the exponential increase in the number of flights expected over the coming years.