Wide Area Multilateration A Surveillance Technique That Is Ready For Use

The recent development of WAM provides ANSPs with a low cost, high performance surveillance layer capable of tracking aircraft in all phases of flight, particularly in areas where the deployment of radars is not cost effective. This offers the potential for considerable cost savings, whilst at the same time improving surveillance coverage. WAM is a cornerstone in the European surveillance strategy and will play a major role in meeting the current and future surveillance needs of Air Navigation Service Providers. WAM systems are already deployed in many regions around the globe Jan Berends, Head of the EUROCONTROL Surveillance Unit said The workshop was based upon lessons drawn from the WAM implementation experiences of a number of Air Navigation Service Providers, Regulatory Authorities and WAM Manufacturers. It addressed all life-cycle phases and highlighted the considerations specific to WAM that an ANSP must respect when deploying such systems. It also presented the comprehensive range of tools and generic documents that are available to support ANSPs in achieving operational approval for the use of their WAM system. WAM manufacturers ERA (SRA International Inc.), Roke Manor Research Ltd, Indra Sistemas S.A, and the Sensis Corporation all contributed to the workshop.