Speech communication via radio between air traffic controllers and pilots is a decisive factor in being able to provide safe air navigation services. A completely new telephone and radio communications system, VCS (Voice and Communication System), has therefore been installed in Naviair’s new control center as well as in the new control tower at Copenhagen Airport. The system has been supplied by Park Air Systems. The radio system, which is primarily used for communication between air traffic controllers and pilots, is connected to transmitters and receivers across the entire country.

Air traffic controllers in the control center are therefore able to communicate with aircraft throughout the entire Danish airspace. The telephone system is used internally for communication between air traffic controllers in the control center and the tower and externally for communication with other airports and control centers in neighboring countries. The VCS is thus an integrated part of Naviair’s new air traffic management system and meets all requirements for an efficient, dependable and stable communication system. Functionality is critical in the VCS because it is the air traffic controllers’ primary radio and telephone system. The system is therefore designed with modular blocks in a distributed architecture and contains a great deal of redundancy. The redundancy means that functionality is entirely or partially maintained even in the event of failures. For additional safety separate backup systems for both radio and telephone have been established. The backup telephone system is supplied by Northern Telecom and installed by TDC, while Naviair’s own specialists have developed the backup radio system. Even in the event that the main system should fail, these two backup systems have sufficient functionality to ensure the safety of the air traffic. LINKS: > Park Air Systems