Northrop Grumman delivers world's first countrywide internet protocol communication network for air traffic control in Uruguay

Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced that its Europe-based air traffic management systems subsidiary, Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems, has delivered the world's first integrated nationwide Internet Protocol (IP)-based VHF solution that will provide voice communications to all aircraft operating in Uruguay.

Park Air Systems was appointed by the prime contractor INDRA to deliver the radio solution which will be coupled to INDRA's IP-based voice switch.

"I am delighted that our air traffic control communications equipment was chosen for this pioneering project," said Charles Houseago, managing director of Northrop Grumman Park Air Systems in the U.K. "We have enjoyed working with Direccion Nacional de Aviacion Civil e Infraestructura Aeronautica (DINACIA) and INDRA to deliver this world-class solution."

Uruguay is the first country to offer a countrywide IP system based on internationally agreed standards that address the safety-critical area of air traffic control communications. In total, 86 radios have been provided across eight sites including Carrasco, Colonia, Cardona, Salto, Tacuarembo, Melo, Santa Clara and San Antonio and all have been operational for several weeks. DINACIA has interconnected the sites and control centre with an IP network, allowing them to benefit from improved performance and savings in telecommunications expenditure.

The global standards for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for air traffic management, ED-137, have been developed by the European Organisation for Civil Aviation Equipment (EUROCAE) Working Group 67, of which Park Air Systems has been an active member since its establishment.

SOURCE Northrop Grumman Corporation