
Rohde & Schwarz to supply ATC communication across Canada
Certium VCS to be installed at all major airports and centers operated by the Canadian ANSP
Rohde & Schwarz is to supply and deploy a Backup Voice Communication Solution for Canada’s airspace.
The Germany-based Rohde & Schwarz will deliver its Certium VCS communications platform under a contract agreed this week with the ANSP Nav Canada. The deal was described by the companies as “a significant milestone in ensuring the safety and efficiency of air traffic control operations in the region” in a statement.
Rohde & Schwarz will deliver a commercial off-the-shelf solution based on Certium VCS platform, which is compliant to the latest ED-137 standard. Multiple systems, each of them with a quad-redundant architecture and running on Nav Canada’s virtualized environment, will provide robust coverage for all major airports and centers operated by Nav Canada.
The five year project will involve the deployment of more than 600 operational Operator Working Positions (OWP), which will be seamlessly interconnected with over 700 phone services and 800 radio frequencies.
Mark Cooper, vice president and chief technology and information officer at Nav Canada said, “Having a modern and fully-fledged second voice communications system, that can be used not only in case of emergencies but also during planned maintenance or other occasions is central to ATC operations across Canada, providing even greater safety, efficiency and resiliency into the future.
“We have been impressed with the solutions and work efforts from Rohde & Schwarz from previous programs and are looking forward to our collaboration with them.”
Anne Stephan, vice president critical infrastructure and network at Rohde & Schwarz said, “Rohde & Schwarz is thrilled to partner with Nav Canada on this important project, which will enhance the safety and efficiency of air traffic control operations across the Canadian airspace.
“We will provide comprehensive support for the project for more than 15 years after its implementation. This commitment underscores our dedication to long-term customer satisfaction and the reliability of our solutions. We remain committed to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the aviation industry.”
As part of the project, Rohde & Schwarz will also deliver the Main VCS system for the International Flight Service Station located in Gander, which provides HF radio services over the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic region of Canada. This expansion of the Certium VCS capability will ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency in managing air traffic in this critical airspace.
The Certium VCS is a state-of-the-art, IP-based voice communications system that seamlessly integrates into the Certium portfolio. With its advanced features and strong security mechanism, the Certium VCS is capable of supporting remote digital facilities systems and connecting area control centers to virtual centers, enabling quick and flexible transfers between centers and even countries.