NATS selects Saab Sensis WAM for 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 is Scotland's busiest airport and currently uses MSSR for terminal area surveillance, which is now 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 today's surveillance needs and tomorrow's avionics.
Ken Kaminski, vice president and general manager of Saab Sensis, said: "ANSPs such as NATS have recognised WAM as a cost-effective, long-term surveillance solution for traditional secondary radar applications. 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.
Defense and aviation market leaders rely on Saab Sensis Corporation to provide advanced sensor technologies, next-generation radars, automation, modeling and simulation solutions. The company serves military, civil aviation, airport and airline customers in more than 35 countries across six continents.
