NATS Selects Saab Sensis Wide Area Multilateration System For Edinburgh Airport

NATS, the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) for the United Kingdoms major airports, has selected Saab subsidiary Saab Sensis Corporations Wide Area Multilateration system (WAM) for the location and identification of flights in the vicinity of Edinburgh Airport. By replacing the existing Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar (MSSR) with WAM, NATS controllers will receive high update rate, precise surveillance at a lower lifecycle cost than a new MSSR.

Edinburgh Airport, Scotlands busiest airport, currently utilizes MSSR for terminal area surveillance that is approaching the end of its serviceable life. After weighing alternatives, NATS identified WAM as the best technological and economical solution. The Saab Sensis WAM system will provide NATS air traffic controllers at Edinburgh with approach control surveillance of commercial, general aviation and helicopters operating within 60 nautical miles of the airport.

Saab Sensis multilateration uses multiple low-maintenance, non-rotating sensors to triangulate aircraft locations based on transponder signals to provide air traffic controllers with precise aircraft position and identification information regardless of weather conditions. With a higher update rate and greater positional accuracy than traditional radar, Saab Sensis multilateration provides effective surveillance for increased safety, capacity and efficiency of airspace. By employing advanced processing techniques, a Saab Sensis multilateration system uses the minimal number of sensors for a less complex, lower lifecycle cost solution. Additionally, each multilateration sensor deployed by Saab Sensis supports Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B), providing an infrastructure that is ready for todays surveillance needs and tomorrows avionics.

ANSPs such as NATS have recognized WAM as a cost-effective, long-term surveillance solution for traditional secondary radar applications, said Ken Kaminski, vice president and general manager of Saab Sensis. Saab Sensis WAM provides comprehensive surveillance of all transponder equipped aircraft today with the ability to seamlessly transition to ADS-B in the future.

Almost 100 sites worldwide have chosen Saab Sensis multilateration to enhance safety, efficiency, capacity and cost savings through airport surface surveillance, wide area surveillance and airport surface management, including London Gatwick, London Heathrow and London Stansted Airports and the North Sea off the coast of Scotland.

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