Leonardo forays into Africa with provision of air traffic control systems in Somalia and Sudan
Global aviation technology company Leonardo has strengthened its presence in Africa in the field of air traffic control with the signing of two agreements to provide ATC systems in Somalia and Sudan.
The announcement was made during the African Airshow event in Accra (Ghana), where the company participated.
The first contract was signed in Montreal with ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), which signed it on behalf of the Federal Government of Somalia. Leonardo, with the support of its Kenya based company, Selex ES Technologies Limited (SETL), will provide an ACC (Air Control Center) and three control towers that will be installed at major airports in the country in a total of 16 operator stations, in addition to a VHF radio system and a satellite network.
The systems will be operational by mid-2018 and will ensure the complete management of Somali air traffic. The national control center of the area will integrate a wide range of products and tools and will meet various operational requirements and air traffic management environments: from large national centers to small control towers.
In Sudan through Selex ES Technologies Limited, Leonardo will provide the authorities for civil aviation of the country (SCAA - Sudan Civil Aviaton Authority) of a national network ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance- Broadcast) and update the Model SIR-S / I four operating secondary radar systems in Khartoum, Port Sudan, Dongola and El Obeid. Deliveries are scheduled for mid-2018.
The ADS-B is a surveillance technology that allows one to monitor an airplane thanks to the satellite broadcast of its position. Leonardo 's ground stations then receive altitude, speed, and position information from the aircraft's GPS, allowing controllers to "see" in real-time cooperating planes in the monitored space with a significant optimization of air traffic management.
The upgrading of the four secondary radars to the SIR-S / I technology standard will ensure maximum accuracy in aircraft identification, better scenarios awareness, and optimized monitoring capability.
