Having become a major player in Africa’s air traffic management (ATM) sector in recent years, Thales is now modernising Zambia’s air traffic control (ATC) centres at Lusaka and Livingstone International airports.
According to Thales, 80% of the continent’s control centres are already equipped with its TopSky – ATC while more than 80 Thales ATC radars are in service in Africa today. Working with Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL), Thales will now modernise the TopSky – ATC systems at both Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka and Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone. The installation of the Datalink CPDLC and ADS-C solutions means Zambia’s ATC centres and pilots will be able to communicate via data messages instead of conventional voice radio. However, VHF channels will still be available as the primary mode of communication in the Flight Information Region (FIR).
While flight plans enable any air traffic control officers to know the exact position of the aircraft operating in their airspace before and during flight, complete situation awareness is only possible thanks to a network of connected sensors that provide controllers with real-time knowledge. All this data neables flights to be “deconflicted”, thereby increasing air safety.
Thales TopSky-ATC offers an ATC automation solution designed to control en route, approach and oceanic traffic, both in civil and military environments. TopSky – ATC provides air traffic controllers and technicians with innovative and intuitive access to flight information, accurate real-time tracking for faster and better decisions, efficient tools for enhanced detection and resolution of conflicts, integrated sequencing and optimisation capabilities and a robust, reliable, easy-to-maintain system.
“We would like to thank ZACL for their continued trust and are proud to be able to support them once again in improving air navigation safety by integrating two state-of-the-art functions into our TopSky – ATC system, which are perfectly suited to today’s needs. Together, Thales and ZACL are delivering the safer air travel of tomorrow,” said Cyril Einaudi, VP Global Turnkey segment, Thales.
