SubscribeLatvijas Gaisa Satiksme (LGS) is exercising a project called CASCADE.
A significant part of CASCADE is the implementation of a CNS/ATM WS Prototype. Si ATM has been selected to fulfill this functionality. The functionality of CNS/ATM CWP Prototype (GROUND, TOWER, APPROACH) will meet and satisfy the need of Latvian ATC for current requirements and accommodates future needs.
It will implement the following:
- A module for approbation and development of new operational procedures for Controller – pilot data link communications and coordination (CPDLC);
- Simulation functionality to support radar surveillance mode for en route, terminal and aerodrome airspace;
The Prototype will support simulation of the complete ATC process having both the air-traffic controller and the pilot in the loop.
LGS provides Air Navigation Services in Latvian airspace. ATRACC is the ATM system for area, approach and tower control of the Riga FIR. It has been designed, produced and implemented by the Swedish Company Si ATM for and in close cooperation with LGS.
The original ATRACC contract, signed in 1996, provided fully automatic radar and flight plan data processing to be used with stripless and paperless procedures. It was implemented in a stepwise development, which was completed in 1999.
A further functional upgrading was made in an additional project AAAF, completed in 2001. AAAF stands for ATRACC ATM Added Functions and addresses Eurocontrol recommended functionality of the EATMP programme. The following was implemented:
- Monitoring aids
- Medium term conflict detection
- Short term conflict alert
- Minimum safe altitude warning
- Area proximity warning
The enhancements of the AAAF project groups ATRACC amongst one of the most advanced systems in the world.
In 2002 a major hardware upgrade was performed. Operator workstations were equipped with large high resolution LCD monitors and both workstations and servers were equipped with latest high performance computers from IBM and Motorola.
In March 2003 Eurocontrol made an evaluation of AAAF and particularly MTCD. Their concluding remarks were:
“It can be concluded that LGS together with Si ATM successfully used the Eurocontrol requirement documents to implement the MTCD functionality within the ATRACC system. The whole development process is a good example of a stepwise implementation of functionality and of a flexible attitude of both the developers as well as the users of the system.”
