GRF compliant centralised StarCaster D-ATIS solution deployed in Iceland

STR-SpeechTech Ltd. (STR) is proud to announce that in partnership with Isavia, STR has completed the delivery, installation and commissioning of a GRF compliant centralised D-ATIS system in Iceland. Building upon the strong relationship established with Isavia since 2007, this installation completes a successful upgrade of the existing StarCaster D-ATIS infrastructure with a central system now deployed at Keflavik International Airport (BIKF). The new system is capable of providing D-ATIS broadcasts for multiple airports and includes compliance to the NEW ICAO Global Reporting Format (GRF) ahead of the applicability date of 4 November 2021.

The GRF functionality included in the delivery was defined in consideration of Iceland’s aviation stakeholders to ensure the StarCaster D-ATIS system complied with Iceland’s GRF regulatory framework. Isavia’s StarCaster D-ATIS solution automatically receives, validates and processes the RCR in compliance with all ICAO and Regional Global Reporting Format (GRF) requirements for D-ATIS broadcasts.

The new hosted and centralized StarCaster D-ATIS system utilizes Isavia’s virtual environment and centrally managed network to provide an Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) for both Keflavik International Airport (BIKF) and Reykjavik Airport (BIRK). All the system’s interfaces are centrally managed by StarCaster. Current weather data and runway condition reports are automatically received through a centralized automated weather source and the ATIS voice broadcasts are transferred to local VHF transmitters in ED-137B compliant VoIP format for broadcast. StarCaster includes interfaces to Isavia’s existing digital telephone system for pilots and other aviation stakeholders to call in and listen to the current ATIS. Lastly, the system also automatically generates and transmits D-ATIS text messages to aircraft via ARINC’s Data Link Network for Keflavik International Airport (BIKF).

The D-ATIS system is centrally located and managed within Isavia’s datacenter greatly reducing the need for Isavia to install additional servers and the costly equipment typically required to support the expansion of ATC tower operations. This provides Isavia with a scalable, cost-effective and centralized solution to support D-ATIS broadcasts and GRF requirements for additional ATC towers in Iceland. Isavia is scheduled to add an ATIS broadcast service for Akureyri Airport (BIAR) to the StarCaster D-ATIS system by the end of 2021.