RADIOCOMMUNICATIONS Reference

Civil radiocommunications for Australian air traffic control

At the end of 2003, NEC Australia Safety for 11 percent of The transceivers have already been worldwide airspace delivered and will be installed within the Pty Ltd. contracted Rohde & Schwarz next two years. However, they first had Airservices Australia is responsible for to meet Australian and New Zealand to supply over 600 R&S ® XU250A the airspace stretching in latitude from standards. These standards differ from two degrees to 90 degrees south and in the European standards that were VHF transceivers (FIG 1). Airservices longitude from 75 to 163 degrees east. applied in the development of the instru- This is equal to 11 percent of the world’s ments and are generally implemented Australia will use these transceivers total airspace and includes annual mon- when the instruments are used around itoring of up to three million domestic the world. These standards are also to modernize the existing air traffic and international flights. In the upper more stringent in certain areas. After a airspace, services are also offered for series of further tests verified that the control (ATC) system across Australia the flight information regions (FIR) of the R&S ® XU250A transceivers conformed and . to these standards, the transceivers can as part of the VHF system upgrade now carry the C-Tick mark, which is simi- With its two major ATC centers in Bris- lar to the European CE mark. project (VHFSUP). What tipped the bane and Melbourne, Australia has two FIRs of its own. These parent cen- scale in favor of Rohde & Schwarz was ters oversee terminal control units (TCU) Voice switching and communi- in Cairns, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, cations system mainly the high performance, reli- which are responsible for ATC within the terminal areas of the largest airports. Moreover, a voice switching and com- ability and low operating cost of the munications system (VSCS) from the TCU Parent center Frequentis company in Vienna will be transceivers. Cairns Brisbane supplied for the ATC centers as part Sydney Melbourne of the project. Rohde & Schwarz has Adelaide Melbourne already completed several ATC projects Perth Melbourne together with Frequentis. To ensure that all equipment can be put into operation Communication between the ATC cen- without any problem, Rohde & Schwarz ters and aircraft is carried out via provided Frequentis with several trans- 153 ground stations by using approx. ceivers for extensive remote-control and 470 VHF transceivers. The new transceiv- monitoring tests. ers will be provided in single-, two- or Dr Rolf Springer even three-unit configurations depend- ing on requirements. FIG 2 shows the location of the nationwide stations.

56 News from Rohde & Schwarz Number 186 (2005/II) 43815

FIG 1 Instruments of the R&S Series 200 from Rohde & Schwarz are used in 60 countries worldwide. They are implemented in day-to-day operations both by civil and military ATC organizations.

More information on the entire radiocommunications program as well as data sheet for the R&S Series 200 transceivers under www.rohde-schwarz.com FIG 2 A lot to do: Vast areas (11 percent of the world’s total airspace) and numerous locations char- acterize the civil radiocommunications network of Australian ATC. It will take approx. two years to equip all locations with the Rohde & Schwarz transceivers. ● Smaller locations with fewer than four transceivers ■ Large stations with more than four transceivers

Thursday Island Maningrida Cairns Many Peaks Shoal Bay Hamilton Island Gove Saddle Mountain Townsville Mackay Darwin Jabiru Weipa Hann Tableland Tabletop Mount Blackwood Millingimbi Swampy Ridge R&S Series 200 data sheet Groote Eylandt Tindal Kintore Eungella Doongan Mornington Mount MacCartney Cooktown Kununurra Island Argyle Limbunya Goochegoochera Mt Mowbullan Derby Broome Halls Creek Kilgour Normanton Oakey Fitzroy Bellenden Kerr Turkey Hill Crossing Tennant Creek Balgo Hills Cheviot Hills Sloping Hummock Mt Isa Port Hedland Kynuna Bundaberg Karratha Telfer Copenhagen Bend

Learmonth Alice Springs Longreach Newman Yulara Mt Archer Maroochydore Paraburdoo Bedourie Emerald Mount Glorious Ayers Rock Rockhampton Glanayle Birdsville Mount Coot-tha Brisbane Carnarvon Warburton Range Charleville Mt Alma Meekathara Jackson Archerfield Oodnadatta Roma Mount Hardgrave Billabong Mount Keith Moomba Tibooburra St George Leonora Springbrook Geraldton, Mount Singleton Woomera Leigh Creek Mt Oxley Passhendale Coolangatta Geraldton TV Mt Dowe Kalgoorlie Mount Nardi Korreo Ballina Nullabour Broken Hill Tamworth 23 Mile Ridge Ceduna Caiguna Mt Canobolas Coffs Harbour Tarin Rock Whyalla The Woolpunda Dubbo Port Macquarie Shenton North Block Bluff Mildura Mt Bingar Berrico The Round Mountain Ridge Esperance Borthwick Hill Mount Moombil Mt Bobbara Point Lookout Albany Mt William Porters Camp Mount Burr Mount Sandon Mt Mount Gambier Tassie Sydney Bankstown King Island Mount Majura Mout Tootie Mount Ginini Mount Edith Mount Heaton Essendon Wynyard Centre Point Perth Wagga Wagga Mount Macedon Devonport Kings Tableland Parkerville Adelaide Flackney Avalon Mount Rumney Mount Read Cooma Mt McAlister Jandakot Parafield Albury Moorabbin Mount Wellington Launceston Brown Mountain Camden Kalamunda Summertown Dederang Arthurs Seat Hobart Mount Barrow Mallacoota Woronora

57 News from Rohde & Schwarz Number 186 (2005/II)