Qatar enhances airspace communication and tower automation with FREQUENTIS to meet expected air traffic increases

Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) has selected Frequentis to upgrade its existing voice communication system (VCS) and modernise its air traffic control (ATC) tower operation to meet air traffic demand resulting from the World Cup in the country in 2022. The football World Cup expects to significantly increase the number of visitors to the region, with daily air traffic movements anticipated to increase from 700 to 1800 movements.

QCAA is upgrading both its main and back VCS systems to enhance airport operations and maintain safety as airspace demands change. The back-up VCS will benefit from Frequentis’ next generation VCS, X10, to increase resilience. In addition, QCAA will also implement Frequentis electronic flight strips in the ATC tower to support air traffic controllers with effectively managing the increased workload and maintaining safety during peak air traffic movements.

“Frequentis has provided QCAA with reliable ATM systems since the 1990s. Our electronic Flight Strips integrated with the ATM system marks the next generation of tower automation, which will allow QCAA to handle the expected, significant air traffic increase,” noted Josef Kutschi, Managing Director Frequentis Middle East.

Both the digitalisation of paper strips and the implementation of the IT-based VCS, X10, fulfil the latest demands for tower digitalisation, paving the way for automation and efficiency, improving controllers’ situational awareness and workflows.

“The X10 architecture allows for a flexible, scalable, and modern approach to air traffic management and smartSTRIPS is an essential tool to support controllers in their challenging role,” says Hannu Juurakko, Frequentis Vice President ATM and Chairman of the ATM Executive Team. “We are pleased to be working with QCAA on this modernisation, the added benefits of X10 will fully prepare QCAA for its upcoming airspace demands.”

The VCS X10 is designed from the origin to fulfill the latest trend towards Virtual Centre operations and, being fully ED-137 complaint, it fully supports the digitalisation of ATC communication, and the standardised implementation and interoperability of voice over IP (VoIP). The Frequentis smartSTRIPS system is already deployed on five continents, covering installations from two to more than ninety controller working positions.

“As a local partner to the region, and to Frequentis, Bayanat Engineering Qatar is pleased to be part of this project to support Qatar airspace with predicted increased demand,” noted Hassan Ezzedine, Managing Partner of Bayanat Engineering Qatar.