Rohde & Schwarz Starts Next Stage Of Airways New Zealand ATC Upgrade

Rohde & Schwarz Australia has secured a new phase of work from Airways New Zealand to expand the R&S IP Voice Communication System (IP VCS) beyond the Auckland and Christchurch air traffic control (ATC) centres to all 19 towers in the national network, plus three mobile and contingency towers.

Under Tranche 2, the company will replace existing tower communications equipment with CERTIUM VCS, building on the Tranche 1 deployment to the ATC centre, which has been in service since October 2023.

Managing Director Rohde & Schwarz Australia Gareth Evans said: "The roll-out of CERTIUM VCS to the 22 towers in the Airways New Zealand network offers reliable, fully redundant voice communications for air traffic controllers across a geographically distributed network, as well as a more resilient, standardized platform that can support uninterrupted operations, easier integration and long-term scalability."

Head of National Engineering Airways New Zealand Tim Yearsley said: "We're looking forward to the next stage of modernisation in voice communication systems, further extending our IP systems capability for next generation aerodrome control systems, supported by Rohde & Schwarz."

Rohde & Schwarz Australia Head of ATC Programs Daniel Wang said: "The award of this contract demonstrates the strength of our trusted partnership with Airways in the transformation of its nationwide air traffic control communications network.

"Together, we are delivering a unified, safety-critical communications environment across tower, approach, area and oceanic control operations that enhances operational resilience and supports future growth, aligning with Airways’ purpose of providing safe skies today and tomorrow."

An IP VCS is a digital voice platform that routes communications over a network rather than solely through traditional telephony or radio lines. It is used in safety-critical settings to connect the right people rapidly, maintain service if part of the network fails, and ensure reliable operations

Image: Airways New Zealand

www.rohde-schwarz.com