CNS SG/17 – IP/11 Agenda Item 7.2 14/05/13

International Civil Aviation Organization

SEVENTEENTH MEETING OF THE COMMUNICATIONS/NAVIGATION/SURVEILLANCE AND METEOROLOGY SUB-GROUP (CNS SG/17) OF APANPIRG

Bangkok, Thailand, 13 – 17 May 2013

Agenda Item 7: Surveillance

7.2) review strategy for the surveillance systems

THE IMPORTANCE OF PREPARATION OF EMAGENCY EQUIPMENT FOR ATC AS RISK MANAGEMENT

(Presented by Japan)

SUMMARY

Japan has compiled the basic idea of the role of airport in earthquake disaster and the necessity of improvement of earthquake protection at airports in 2007. We have implemented the improvement of airports which are corresponding to the disaster.

Sendai airport was seriously damaged by Tsunami caused by Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Although the disaster was above assumptions, the operation of passenger flights was recovered after almost a month and it made a significant contribution for recovery in the region from the catastrophe.

This paper reports the backgrounds of the usage of emergency equipment for Air Traffic Control (ATC) which enabled for early resumption of passenger flights, among the restoration of function of airport.

1. Introduction

1.1 In Japan earthquakes occur frequently, and we have experience that Niigata Airport played various roles during the Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake in 2004, which was a strong earthquake with magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale. Based on the experience we conducted extensive study about the role of airport in earthquake disaster. And we summarize the basic idea for them in 2007.

1.2 The report says that recovery of passenger regular flight operation is highly prioritized at the early stage after the earthquake disaster as for bases of rescue activities, for the function of transportation of critical material or support person, and for sustainability of economic activities. And it also reports that important facility such as runway should reinforce earthquake protection. In Sendai airport, seismic strengthening measures such as liquefaction countermeasure work for runway were conducted.

CNS SG/17 –IP/11 -2- Agenda Item 7.2 14/05/13

1.3 These actions enabled early resumption at Sendai airport, which was seriously damaged by Tsunami caused by Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. And the resumption of infrastructure of airport made a significant contribution for recovery in the region from the catastrophe.

1.4 This IP reports the operation of Transportable Radar Control System and Emergency VFR system for ATC, which enabled the early recovery of ATC systems required for operation of commercial flights after the catastrophe by Tsunami, and the background of the early resumption at the airport.

2. Discussion

2.1 Emergency equipments for ATC

2.1.1 Overview

Transportable Radar Control System (TRCS) and Emergency VFR system for ATC (EVA) will be used to ensure basic ATC function of an airport when a Radar Approach Control function of the airport or a control tower of the airport is destroyed by catastrophe such as earthquake, fire, or others, and when the recovery of the function is estimated to take a long time. In such situation those system will respectively be transported, deployed, and used. Transportable Radar Control System (TRCS) and Emergency VFR system is to ensure the Radar Approach Control function and control tower of the airport respectively.

2.1.2 Transportable Radar Control System (TRCS) is transportable by a medium size truck or helicopter, and this is composed of a compact shelter with a foldable antenna. A control room can be set up by connecting two shelters and it becomes a radar installation by developing a foldaway antenna. The maximum coverage range of TRCS is 100 NM in radius and can detect the position and altitude information. The information is displayed by graphic on the radar display. It is also possible to communicate with pilot by VHF and with other ATS facilities by communication line.

2.1.3 Emergency VFR system for ATC (EVA) consists of lifting equipment, communication shelter, and control tower shelter for ATC. It is transportable by a medium size truck or helicopter. The control tower shelter and communication shelter have function as VFR operation room. It is equipped with communication function with airplanes by VHF and UHF, and with other ATS facilities by dedicated line or hot-line. It also enables to measure wind direction, wind speed, and altimeter setting at the installation site of this system. Lifting equipment is capable of arbitrary height of 6m from 1.5m above ground to raise and lower the control tower shelter.

-3- CNS SG/17 – IP/11 Agenda Item 7.2 14/05/13

2.1.3 Storage situation

JCAB has introduced the emergency equipment for ATC since 1997. Currently JCAB has owned three sets of the EVA equipment and TRCS equipment each. Taking into the consideration of the disaster at the storage location, we store them in 3 locations in Japan, Fukuoka Airport, Tokyo International Airport, and Osaka International Airport. We conduct deployment training of these equipments regularly and prepare for the affected time. Meanwhile we also use them as an alternative facility for temporary use when we renew radar at an airport.

2.1.4 Past record of usage due to renewal

In 2009, Radar equipment renewal in Hiroshima and Narita In 2010, Radar equipment renewal in Hiroshima In 2011, Radar equipment renewal in Oita、Disaster recovery in Sendai In 2012, Radar equipment renewal in Niigata

2.2 Overview of disaster

2.2.1 Sendai airport was attacked by a violent rumbling and shaking at 14:46 on March 11, 2011. Then, horizontal oscillation lasted for 5 minutes. The scheduled arrival and departure flight from Sendai Airport was about 80 domestic flights and 8 international flights. Usually the number of passenger flight become zero at this airport is only three to four times a day, and It is only 20 minutes from several minutes. When the earthquake happened, there was miraculously no passenger aircraft on the runway. After that aftershocks continued, the big tsunami attacked the airport at 15:59. It was exceeding possible tsunami attack we thought.

2.2.3 Damage situation of radio facilities

 Control tower building IFR and Equipment room in building facilities are catastrophic damage.

 Radio equipment site in the airport The site was flooded less than 10cm.

[IFR room] [Equipment room] CNS SG/17 –IP/11 -4- Agenda Item 7.2 14/05/13

[Sendai Airport attacked by tsunami] [Sendai Airport just behind tsunami]

2.3 Background to Operation

2.3.1 JCAB in cooperation with Self-Defense-Force and U.S. forces in Japan began to recover Sendai Airport immediately after the earthquake for securing transportation path of critical material. First, they removed the rubble of apron and runway 600m minimum required to accept the emergency transport activities by emergency life guard helicopter. As a result, two helicopter of Self- Defense Force landed on the 15th March. The airport was continued restored and C130 transport aircraft was able to land on March 16, C17 transport aircraft with a maximum load capacity of more than three times the C130 was able to take off and land on the 20th day and delivered critical material.

2.3.2 Meanwhile passenger flight was recovered as relief service on April 13. This early recovery of the airport became a major step for reconstruction in the afflicted district from the earthquake and Tsunami. It also functioned as infrastructure of transportation toward the disaster area for personnel of volunteers, or companies and government agencies that were in charge of reconstruction.

2.3.3 About the emergency equipments for ATC, it was storage at Tokyo international airport and was shipped to Sendai airport after the installation of map for radar or setting of assignment of radio channel. At Sendai airport we conducted site selection in response to the situation, and installed equipment and lightning rod etc.

2.3.4 These are the time-line until the resume of passenger flights.

March 11 The Great East Japan Earthquake occurrences March 16 Part of the Sendai Airport control tower is powered by the temporary engine March 17 Air traffic controllers begin to provide information by the light-gun signals for the Self-Defense Forces aircrafts March 25 Sendai VOR / DME starts the operation March 24 EVA installation starts March 31 The air traffic information service start from EVA April 11 The air traffic information service provides from control tower. April 13 Sendai ILS equipment start the operation. Aerodrome Traffic control service and approach control service start at VFR control tower room The operation of Civil Aviation aircraft restart (12 flights / day) April 15 The terminal radar approach control service is commenced by the TRCS -5- CNS SG/17 – IP/11 Agenda Item 7.2 14/05/13

[EVA at Sendai Airport] [Inside of the TRCS shelter for radar control] (EVA was not set high in case of the aftershock)

2.4 Conclusion

2.4.1 Early resumption of operation at the airport is the most important for rapid recovery from disaster. And it is important to prepare emergency equipment for ATC as a risk management.

3 Action by the Meeting

3.1 The meeting is invited to note the information contained in this paper.

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