Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Arizona, US, has replaced its control tower with Frequentis’ integrated digital tower solution.
This new solution is claimed to offer the first controller-to-pilot IP voice communication in the US.
The technology from Frequentis, which adheres to the ED-137 standard, is said to enhance controller efficiency to facilitate air traffic growth.
It comprises integrated recording and offers digital terminal information and weather services.
In addition, it has space to accommodate eight controller working positions to facilitate the additional projected growth in the future.
The US Representative in D-Arizona Greg Stanton noted that the new tower is ‘an essential investment’ and will ‘help it become an even more forceful economic engine for the East Valley and Arizona.’
The previous control tower was constructed in 1970 when the airport was a training ground for Air Force pilots and was called Williams Air Force Base.
However, the earlier tower was not spacious enough to support the aircraft movements on three 10,000ft airport runways as a commercial facility.
Frequentis USA president Leonard Swiontek said: “We appreciate our long-lasting relationship with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport and are a proud partner supporting the airport’s future with our integrated tower solution providing the flexibility needed to safely scale from the current operation into the future.
“The project is also significant as it marks the first VCS connecting to IP radios using the ED-137 standard, also adopted by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) going live into the US.”
Last year in November, Deutsche Telekom unit T-Systems partnered with Frequentis to digitise airports globally to enhance processes in the passenger, logistics and airside areas.
