Era - Beyond Radar - Parallel Runway Monitoring & Surface Management

Parallel Runway Monitoring & Surface Management - Beijing

Beijing is home to one of the fastest growing airports in the world, Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). In 2005, Beijing Capital International Airport was the world leader in passenger growth, with a staggering 17.5% upswing in passenger traffic. This number is only expected to rise, especially as Beijing prepares for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Sixty-six airlines serve Beijing Capital International Airport offering flights to more than 88 cities in China and 69 cities abroad, accounting for over 5,000 scheduled flights.

The Challenge

Beijing’s unprecedented growth and success represents an immense challenge for the airport operations. The large increase in demand cannot be met by capital improvements and construction alone. Furthermore, the safety concerns in the face of expanding volumes become a critical consideration.

Beijing Capital International Airport currently has 2 runways with the 3rd under beijingmss3-website construction. All runways are parallel to each other, necessitating the need for a Parallel Runway Monitoring (PRM) system. Previously, Beijing utilized a specially designed electronically scanned radar, which had been the only system deemed acceptable for use in guiding aircraft on approach to parallel runways. However, e-scan radars are an extremely expensive solution with a limited life cycle as they offer no support for next-generation ADS-B technologies.

Additionally, with the extreme upswing in aircraft movements, Beijing Capital International Airport needed improved airport ground surveillance ATM officials decided to research systems that could leverage next-generation technologies based on multilateration and ADS-B to provide a complete solution for both parallel runway monitoring and surface surveillance, as well as future-proof their investment in this surveillance infrastructure.

The Solution

The North China ATMB evaluated multilateration and ADS-B solution providers and selected the team of Park Air and Era to deliver two separate Mode S Multilateration (MLAT) systems including ADS-B reception, decoding and transmitting capabilities. NCATMB selected Park Air as the prime contractor to deliver the system, based on its track record of success in integrating component technologies to offer a turnkey air traffic control solution, and MSS by Era, based on its proven wide area multilateration and ADS-B technology. The Era solution will provide parallel runway monitoring as well as surface surveillance for Beijing Capital International Airport by utilizing the same “MSS by Era” network of sensors.

This groundbreaking project will provide higher accuracy, greater update rate, better coverage and improved reliability when compared to traditional radar technology, as well as dramatically lower initial and maintenance costs.

The solution utilizes the MSS by Era multilateration and ADSB surveillance data to provide air traffic controllers with uninterrupted identification of aircraft and equipped vehicles. The surface sensors at Beijing Capital International Airport cover all manoeuvring areas with the added ability to cover a future undeveloped fourth runway.