Seoul Gimpo International Airport will benefit from COMSOFT MLAT and A-SMGCS

Seoul Regional Aviation Administration, in South Korea, has selected German ATC expert COMSOFT for the installation of cutting edge Multilateration and Advanced Surface Movement Guidance (A-SMGCS) technology, in order to provide state of the art surveillance techniques, capable of enhanced safety and functionality.

COMSOFT’s expertise were chosen to work in partnership with the local knowledge of Seoul based solutions provider Mopiens, to assist with the installation and maintenance, as well as ATRiCS – the leading expert in Advanced Integrated Controller Working Positions (A-ICWP) and automated routing and guidance – who have experience in providing intelligent ATM solutions at airports. This teaming agreement with the trio has been established to provide the customer with the best solution.

The superior surveillance system will be provided to Seoul Gimpo International Airport in the South Korean capital, enabling high performance and improved surveillance coverage through a three-dimensional picture of air traffic. The ability for the technology to indicate the exact position of aircraft, in turn reducing the amount of separation needed between them, characterises it as an important technology to support the future growth of air travel. Benefits will also include considerable cost savings, fuel efficiencies, and fewer disruptions for passengers.

Seoul Gimpo International Airport is the second largest in South Korea. Multilateration surveillance will be provided with COMSOFT's ultra-compact Quadrant ADS-B sensor, with an unrivalled range exceeding 300 NM. A demanding throughput of airport traffic on the ground also highlighted the need for portable and easily mountable ground vehicle transmitters. COMSOFT’s ADS-B ground vehicle transmitter, MIDGET, supports the tracking of ground-based objects by periodically broadcasting identity and position of the carrier-vehicle. The MIDGET can either be mounted permanently or attached magnetically to any carrier at the location. Around 50 vehicles will be equipped with MIDGETs at Seoul Gimpo International and, like aircraft mounted transmitters, will broadcast at a frequency of 1090 MHz extended DF18 squitter.

Assistant Director Seoul Regional Aviation Administration, Rak Seon Seong, said: “Being able to confirm the exact position of aircraft on the ground is essential for maintaining and enhancing air traffic safety while air traffic volumes continue to rise. With COMSOFT’s up-to-date solution, the expertise of ATRiCS and local knowledge from Mopiens we will be able to set an example for safety in the region.”

Wolfgang Hatzack, CEO of ATRiCS added: “In this company trio, we are delighted to provide Seoul Gimpo International with a made-to-measure A-SMGCS including working position functions and an expandability that go beyond most other A-SMGCS installations. With their recent decision Gimpo airport will gain significant safety and cost benefits.”

With a seasonal climate of icy winters and very hot summers COMSOFT’s Quadrant solution is an ideal fit, coping at both ends of the temperature scale from as low as -40c to +70c. Quadrant is an expandable, integrated solution providing independent position measurement using multilateration techniques, and multiple remote ground stations reporting over conventional communication links.

In multilateration use the potential of the Quadrant sensor can be fully exploited, providing superior range over secondary radar with higher accuracy at significantly lower costs. Complex surveillance tasks can also be performed and update rates of once per second are achievable.