Boston Logan Gets ASDE-X

Boston Logan International is now operating with the Sensis Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X), a runway incursion detection and alerting system. Logan is the 19th airport to receive the technology through the FAA's ASDE-X program. A total of 35 airports will have ASDE-X by 2011. ASDE-X combines surface movement radar, multilateration and Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) to provide air traffic controllers with highly accurate, real-time position and identification information of all aircraft and vehicles on the airport surface. By integrating multiple sensor technologies, the system delivers a comprehensive picture of ground operations, increasing controller situational awareness and improving airport safety in all weather conditions. The system also features advanced runway conflict detection and alerting technology, Safety Logic, which uses complex algorithms to alert controllers of potential aircraft or vehicle incursions. ASDE-X is compatible with NextGen systems such as ADS-B and will serve as the basis for the FAA's Runway Status Lights (RWSL) program. "ASDE-X gives controllers a comprehensive view of all aircraft and vehicles operating on Boston Logan's intricate system of runways and taxiways," said Marc Viggiano, chief operating officer of Sensis. "The system also meets the challenge of providing accurate, reliable surveillance in all weather conditions as a result of multiple surveillance sources."

Newark Gets ASDE-X

Newark Liberty International is now operating with Sensis Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model X (ASDE-X), a runway incursion detection and alerting system. "The deployment of ASDE-X at Newark is a significant upgrade to the previous system," said Marc Viggiano, chief operating officer of Sensis. "With ASDE-X, controllers now have more robust conflict detection and alerting functionality that improves the safety of operations on the ground. The system also provides greater situational awareness of the runways and taxiways, such as accurately seeing the queue for departure, to more efficiently manage ground traffic. This will help reduce delays and improve the flying experience." At New York's Kennedy International, the ASDE-X platform is providing the precise surveillance data needed to support the FAA's trial of Sensis Aerobahn airport automation and management tool. The FAA is using Aerobahn to observe and measure ground operations to address potential changes to airport operations that would ease congestion and flight delays.

$7 Million for Kennedy Int'l Taxiways

New York's Kennedy International has been awarded $6.9 million for taxiway work. The FAA grant will be used for taxiway improvements, including pavement rehabilitation. This funding will in turn increase safety and reduce delays at the airport, which have often plagued travelers and cost New Yorkers time and huge amounts of money. The grant will provide federal funding for a Phase 2 effort to rehabilitate Taxiways S, SC SD and SR. The existing pavements are in very poor condition and require rehabilitation to ensure airfield safety.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Taxiway C Project Underway

The new taxiway will be able to handle aircraft as large as a Boeing 747 or an Airbus 340, the airport said. Further, the new taxiway will extend from the existing C-3 taxiway connector to the existing C-4 taxiway connector, giving pilots a quicker and easier option for accessing the airport's north runway. Edge lighting, centerline conduit, drainage, grading and other modifications to comply with FAA design standards are also being implemented in this phase of the project, the airport said. "This project is recycling the existing asphalt and integrating it into the structural subgrade for the new taxiway," explained David Hensley, , deputy aviation director for design and construction. The recycled asphalt is being stockpiled near the work site to be incorporated later into the structural subgrade. Stockpiling this material on site helps to minimize truck emissions by reducing the hauling distance compared to a further off site location. Further, the excavated soil material is being stockpiled and saved for future use on other airport projects instead of going to a construction debris landfill, Hensley said.

Eurocopter Flight Training in Russia

Eurocopter and UTair, the largest Russian helicopter operator, have signed a memorandum of agreement to jointly develop a flight training center in Tyumen, West Siberia, Russia. The new flight training center will commence operations at the beginning of 2010 and will allow flight crews and technicians to be trained locally in Russia to operate Eurocopter helicopters. In 2008, the two companies decided to create an integrated technical maintenance center in Tyumen to support the Eurocopter fleet in Russia. This Eurocopter certified maintenance center will open its doors towards the end of 2009. UTair has been operating Eurocopter helicopters since 2006. They are used for a wide variety of operations ranging from VIP services, monitoring of oil and gas pipelines, geologic exploration, photo and video footage, cargo fling operations to medical missions. Starting from 2012, Eurocopter's new product, the EC175 will also join UTair's fleet of helicopters. In 2008, UTair became a launching partner for the EC175 with an order for 15 helicopters, and an option for 15 more.

North Sea Offshore Flight Safety

NATS, the UK air navigation service provider, and Oil & Gas UK, have launched a new system that will improve offshore flight safety. North Sea Multilateration will allow controllers to see helicopters on their radar screens in areas of the North Sea which, until now, have been beyond the reach of land-based radars. This is the world's first operational use of multilateration to track offshore flights. The system uses signal transmitters and receivers fitted to offshore oil and gas platforms in the central area of the North Sea, to track and identify individual helicopters. The data is sent to the control tower at Aberdeen Airport where it provides real-time information for the controllers. Aberdeen Airport is the gateway for the North Sea oil and gas industry and handles more than 25,000 helicopter flights per year. Many of the platforms are located in areas beyond the reach of conventional radar, which can only track the helicopter flights up to 80 miles offshore. Beyond that range, NATS has to transfer to radio-only procedures to monitor the helicopters' position. The new system enables controllers to see the flights they're controlling all the way to and from the platforms, so it will be easier to ensure that they maintain the correct track and height. And in the event of an emergency, the new system will help us to locate the helicopter. The project, which began in 2004, will see transmitter/receivers fitted to 16 offshore platforms. Operating as four clusters of four platforms, the sensors track the helicopter and relay the information ashore. The position information can be derived from a minimum of three signals, but four provides greater accuracy and a back-up in the event of equipment becoming unserviceable. Three of the four clusters are now complete, allowing flight trials to begin, and the fourth cluster is scheduled for completion in January 2010. The new system is expected to be fully operational by June 2010, covering some 25,000 square miles of the North Sea. As part of the project, voice communications have also been upgraded over the same area.