AIR TRANSPORT (AIN)
- May 10,
2018, 1:00 AM
Harris Corporation
has won a $141 million contract from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to
modernize India’s air traffic management (ATM) communications infrastructure,
the principals announced at the sixth U.S.-India Summit on May 10 in Mumbai.
The AAI has chosen Harris as the prime contractor and systems integrator for
its Futuristic Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) initiative. Under the
plan, Harris will upgrade 91 sites for ATC operations.
The 15-year contract
will cover air traffic operations across all Indian airspace. Pilots will no
longer need to change to different frequencies through Indian airspace once FTI
goes into operation. India’s airports continue to grow more congested as domestic
air traffic expands at 18 percent per year. In addition, the country’s regional
connectivity scheme is fast adding unserved and remote airports in the
hinterland, making FTI crucial to upgrade network operations and improve the
security, reliability, and quality of India’s ATM network.
Leveraging Harris’s
FAA-managed network services model, the FTI will serve as a communications
gateway in “creating demand for new aircraft, air navigation technologies,
airport security equipment, and infrastructure,” said AAI chairman Guruprasad
Mohapatra.
Harris and AAI will
work in partnership to migrate hundreds of telecommunications services onto the
network. The systems integration includes equipment modernization, network
centers, security operations, satellite gateways for remote locations, and air
traffic systems. Authorities will operate and maintain the system constantly to
allow for an immediate response to potential outages and ensure network
strength and reliability.
“The selection of our
FAA-proven managed network services model allows the agency to benefit from the
most current telecommunications technology, enhanced safety and efficiency, and
reduced operational costs,” said Rick Simonian, vice president and general
manager of Harris Electronic Systems Mission Networks.
FTI will also
substantially decrease telecommunications costs over time through streamlined
service, reduce communications-related delays at airports, and provide simpler
network service structure through an integrated network.
No comments:
Post a Comment