ATM News :
Chile orders latest-generation ATM radar systems
Chile's civil aviation authority, Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC), has awarded Thales a contract worth nearly $6m to replace the primary radars at Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas and supply a new secondary surveillance radar at Punta Arenas.
The latest-generation equipment will replace systems that have reached the end of their operational life cycles. The primary and secondary radars have been in service for more than 20 years.
The new systems have already been successfully deployed in a number of countries. Manufactured using the latest technology, they are easier to operate and maintain, and will be covered by a 2-year warranty.
The procurement is part of the country's national air navigation development plan for 2004-2010, which was initiated in 2004 and gained government approval at the end of 2005. The contract was awarded after an international request for proposals in which the Thales bid was selected as the best technical and economic solution.
The primary radar is a solid-state system with range capabilities of 80 nautical miles and two channels, including a 6-level weather channel, as well as a central monitoring system to alert operators when boards or subassemblies need to be replaced.
The weather channel, the first in the DGAC's radar network, will give air traffic controllers a clear view of weather conditions, providing valuable decision-making assistance when weather conditions are poor.
The secondary surveillance radar is of the same type already in use at Santiago and Puerto Montt, but incorporates the selective Mode S functionality already widely used in the United States and Europe. This functionality will allow the DGAC to design and test new Mode S procedures ahead of the replacement of the Cerro Colorado radar system later in the development plan schedule.
This modern technology offers an affordable solution to the DGAC's requirements, enabling the authority to continue to provide high-quality air traffic control services while enhancing airspace safety and security.
About Thales
Thales is a leading international electronics and systems group, serving defence, aerospace and security markets worldwide, supported by a comprehensive services offering. The group’s civil and military businesses develop in parallel to serve a single objective: the security of people, property and nations. Leveraging a global network of high-level researchers, Thales offers a capability unmatched in Europe to develop and deploy critical information systems. Thales employs 60,000 people in 50 countries and generated revenues of € 10.3 billion in 2005, with a record order book of over € 20 billion.