CASA certifies Wide Area Multilateration operations at Sydney Airport

Saab Sensis has achieved operational certification from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority for operational deployment of Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) and Precision Runway Monitoring (PRM) at Sydney Airport.

The WAM system is now providing Airservices Australia air traffic controllers with terminal airspace surveillance for improved coverage and separation services within the airport’s Terminal Maneuvering Area (TMA)

It is also providing precision approach surveillance for separation of flights on approach to Sydney’s closely spaced parallel runways.

Saab Sensis says that the Sydney WAM system is now the first single WAM system in the industry to simultaneously perform both complex surveillance tasks.

Airservices selected Saab Sensis to deploy a single WAM system to provide low level terminal airspace surveillance (out to 40 nm) for three nautical mile separation services in the TMA and PRM for independent parallel approaches in Instrument Meteorological Conditions.

The sensors used for WAM and PRM are the same as the existing Saab Sensis sensors currently deployed for Sydney’s Advanced–Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) for simplified maintenance and training.

“The single Saab Sensis WAM system is enabling Airservices to achieve two critical goals at once: improve terminal area surveillance and replacement of legacy PRM radar,” said Airservices Acting General Manager Technology and Asset Services, Dan Galazowski.

"We now have a terminal area surveillance solution that further enhances safety and provides the surveillance needed for precision approaches.”

Saab Sensis multilateration uses multiple low-maintenance, non-rotating sensors to determine aircraft location based on transponder signals, providing air traffic controllers with precise aircraft position and identification information regardless of weather conditions.