WAM extension for the Queenstown Airport in New Zealand to be provided by ERA

ERA, the primary contractor for the Airways Corporation of New Zealand, has deployed its MSS (Multisensor Surveillance System) multilateration and ADS-B surveillance system for Auckland and Queenstown airports in New Zealand in 2009, respectively 2010. Auckland MSS serves for surface surveillance. The second MSS which has been installed around Queenstown airport serves for the WAM (Wide Area Multilateration).

The need to extend the system came about as the Queenstown airport has become busier as a result of fans of the film trilogy The Lord of the Rings who are visiting the area. Having proven its abilities, ERA has been asked to extend the WAM system at Queenstown through the installation of additional sensors. “Airways New Zealand has awarded a contract to ERA of the Czech Republic to expand the Multilateration network at Queenstown Airport to the lower part of the South Island of New Zealand. This contract reflects the confidence that Airways has with the performance of the existing system and will provide Air Traffic Control surveillance in an area of the country that is not currently covered by radar,” stated Airways Project Manager Rex Wilson.

ERA proposed hardware delivery and project services for the expansion to enhance surveillance coverage of the current system through adding seven remote ground stations. The installation has already begun and completion is expected in early summer of this year. It will be followed by the completion of the SAT (Site Acceptance Test). As Mr. Wilson confirmed: “The new equipment will be installed over the New Zealand summer season and will become operational in the latter part of 2013”.

The actual WAM extension
The configuration of the proposed WAM expansion comprises: seven receiving/transmitting stations, one upgrade of the current receiving/transmitting station, one transmitting station and two reference and monitoring transponders. The proposed system has been designed for 24/7 operation. The site infrastructure, including the power and communications links, will be provided by Airways.
MSS by ERA is a modular system easily adaptable to any terminal and wide area requirements as well as all terrain challenges. Due to their resistance to adverse weather conditions and their minimal impact on the environment, the sensors can be easily mounted in most locations, including for instance the mountainous terrain of national parks.

The airports of New Zealand
Queenstown International Airport is located in Frankton, region Otago. At present, it is the fourth busiest airport in New Zealand with passenger traffic with an ever growing potential, particularly after the number of tourists has increased thanks to the popularity of the area. In the nearby mountains Remarkables the director Peter Jackson shot his worldwide hit movie The Lord of the Rings (particularly its second part The Two Towers).
Auckland Airport is the largest airport in New Zealand with 14 million passengers per year. It was voted the 8th best airport in the world in 2011 at the world airport awards.