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World-class Air Traffic Management System for Oman

By By Conrad Prabhu Spain's Indra launches work on high-tech national air traffic control infrastructure
MUSCAT: Oman's government is investing in a state-of-the-art Air Traffic Management System (ATMS) to complement the multi-billion rial modernisation of the country's airport and aeronautical infrastructure. Spanish-headquartered global technology solutions and services giant Indra is developing the high-tech system at a cost of RO 44.85 million ($105.7 million). A formal contract to this effect was signed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications in July this year.

Under the contract, Indra will supply and install a Standardised Nationwide Air Traffic Management System for Muscat and Salalah international airports and four regional airports currently under development at Sohar, Ras al Hadd, Duqm and Adam. The turnkey project entails building an advanced, automated system for air traffic management, which offers air traffic controllers a comprehensive overview of aircraft movement within Oman's airspace. The system will have a contingency centre designed to respond to any incident and guarantee safety.

"Oman will have a state-of-the-art air traffic management system comparable to the systems operating in modern countries. This will help Oman receive more passengers and develop its tourism industry," said Javier Tejerina, Deputy General Director of Air Traffic Management at Indra. In comments to the Observer, Tejerina said the ATM system under development for the Sultanate will be truly one-of-a-kind. "Oman's ATMS will be among the first in the world. The control centres will be equipped with systems which comply with the new management concept based on trajectory.

Until now, aircrafts had pre-established routes. Nowadays, technology is undergoing customisation so that airlines can choose the most suitable route. Therefore, Oman will be ready to take the plunge when the time comes. This new management concept will help reduce oil consumption, aircraft emissions and the time to reach destination." Significantly, the Air Traffic Management System is a key component of a broader strategy by the government to transform the Sultanate into a leading tourist destination in the Gulf region. That strategy centres on the modernisation of the country's international gateways at Muscat and Salalah, the construction of new domestic airports, and the expansion of national carrier Oman Air 's fleet and destination network.

As part of its contract, Indra will also refurbish the earth-air voice communications systems in the two international airports and the four regional airports, ensuring the smooth operational transition from the current system to the future system. It will also install a complete weather forecasting system, which will improve the prediction capacity of the Directorate General of Meteorology and Air Navigation (DGMAN), providing among other services, support to the air traffic control centres and towers.

Furthermore, at Muscat and Salalah international airports , Indra will install surface guidance and control systems based on solid state surface movement radars. This equipment will allow both airports to operate with complete security in any weather and in conditions of low visibility. Indra's world-leading capabilities in Air Traffic Management made it an obvious choice for the Omani government in the selection of a supplier for its requirement of a high-end system, says Tejerina.

"Indra is one of the leading companies in Air Traffic Management worldwide. It has developed air traffic projects in over 90 countries. Currently, it is one of the most active companies within the European single sky initiative, SESAR. The company is engaged in the development of the new generation of systems to be employed by Europe to address continuous air traffic growth."

He added: "We are pioneers in innovation and this progress provides knowledge for the benefit of our clients. This is precisely what the Ministry of Transport and Communication represented by the Directorate General of Meteorology and Air Navigation (DGMAN) values the most. Indra offered its most advanced system for automation of air traffic management in compliance with the established standards.

The development of this technology aimed to meet the requirements of the air traffic management of the world's most congested zones: Maastricht, Germany, Spain, or England, and so on." Indra's ability to offer state-of-the-art technology, says Tejerina, is a key factor in the company's continuing success. "Few companies in the world offer this kind of systems and we are among the leaders." The system being supplied to Oman will be able to detect conflicts in routes quite in advance thus avoiding delays. Furthermore, it will help enhance the management capacity of air traffic controllers, according to the executive.

Also as part of its contractual obligations, Indra will provide training to air traffic controllers and heads of technical staff in charge of maintaining the equipment. Besides, the company will implement three control tower simulators matching the systems to be used by the air traffic controllers. They include a 360º visual system which reproduces exactly the view from the tower. Furthermore, upon completion of the project, Indra will supervise the system's performance for the next two years and will help make sure air traffic controllers get the most out of its technology, Tejerina added.

© Oman Daily Observer 2010