Increase an airport's operational effectiveness
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Modern digital communications can make aiports safer and more efficient.
Digitisation
Many factors ease the decision to move to a digital Trunked Radio platform at major airports around the world. As the first analogue Trunked radio systems are reaching end-of-life-cycle, the move to more secure digital communications is currently underway.
Complex Environment
In terms of complexity, a major airport may be compared to a ‘big-event’ (Euro 2004, Olympic Games) on a 24/7 365 basis. There are no other facilities worldwide requiring so many subscribers, on such a limited geographical area coupled with such a huge quantity of calls. In addition, a typical major airport will have in the region of 30-40 km of in-building coverage systems providing radio coverage to all areas of the airport, including underground car-parks, baggage and cargo facilities and Aircraft repair hangars.
Security
Back in the mid-eighties the security aspect of an airports radio system (eave-dropping) was not considered an important issue. Therefore operational security did not enter into the decision making process during the evaluation of such systems at all. Post 9.11 of course, the security aspect of airports have escalated the requirement to provide short-term grade security for the day to day operations. While EADS Digital Solutions may be deployed with high-grade encryption systems, the coding techniques employed in the basic platforms is considered quite sufficient for the short-term security provision of an airport.
Typical user groups of airport digital radio communication systems include:
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Tower and Apron Control
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Ground Handling Services
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Follow-Me
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Push-Back
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Security Personnel
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Emergency and Rescue Services
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Airlines
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Catering Services
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Technical Services.
Optimised Features
EADS are no strangers to the demanding and harsh environment of airports having deployed complex radio systems into major airports over the last 20 years including innovative solutions to airport applications.
