17/01-13   -   Press releases

Multi-sensor data-fusion: DFS system

The air navigation service provider of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kazaeronavigatsia, is now using the multi-sensor data-fusion system Phoenix from the German air navigation service provider, DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung. It was chosen for air traffic control service in their new contingency tower at Almaty International Airport. The system went into operation at the end of last year. Thus, the software development and implementation of Phoenix were conducted on schedule within the length of one year. DFS was entrusted with the work by the Kazakh system provider Technology Information Systems (TIS) that had won the tender from Kazaeronavigatsia to provide a new tower and approach system.

Phoenix has been configured to process and display sensor data for approach and aerodrome control at Almaty International Airport, but the system can also be used for en-route, ground control and taxiing guidance. The heart of the system is the tracker which processes sensor and position data from up to a total of fifty sensors.

DFS has equipped four working positions in the contingency tower with Phoenix; this includes safety net functions. If the primary system in the control tower experiences a failure, three controllers and a supervisor can continue to control arriving and departing traffic at the airport. A further working position can be used to process flight plan data, NOTAM and weather data, which is exchanged worldwide using the AFTN. Additionally, there is a working position to monitor the system and the hardware. Another special working position is equipped so that certain operational situations can be recorded and replayed as required. To round it all off, DFS also conducted system training for Kazakh technicians and air traffic controllers.

"We are very satisfied with the new system. The integration went very well. The precision, performance and flexibility of the tracker allow us to keep up capacity at the airport if we have to use the contingency tower," reported Dmitry Nikishin, system engineer from Kazaeronavigatsia.




DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung GmbH, the German air navigation service provider, is a State-owned company under private law and has 6,000 employees. DFS ensures the safe and punctual flow of air traffic over Germany. Staff coordinate up to 10,000 aircraft movements in German airspace every day, and about three million movements every year. This makes Germany the country with the highest traffic volume in Europe. DFS operates control centres in Langen, Bremen, Karlsruhe and Munich. In addition, DFS is represented in the Eurocontrol Centre in Maastricht, the Netherlands, and in the control towers of the 16 international German airports. DFS provides training and consultancy services around the world and develops and sells air traffic management systems. The company´s portfolio also comprises flight-relevant data, aeronautical publications and aeronautical information services. DFS has the following business units: Control Centre, Tower, Aeronautical Solutions and Aeronautical Information Management.