AASL launches Flight Data Processing System

• Upgrades Aero Mobile Centre AASL
  
   

Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. recently installed a Flight Data Processing System (FDPS) replacing not only the existing practice of entering data manually on flight plan strips by operational staff at the Aeronautical Mobile Service Centre (AMSC), but also the Operator Console at AMSC. 

This project has been entirely funded by AASL with an investment of Rs. 82 million. The new system was installed under the purview of Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Arjuna Ranatunga. 

Aero mobile service/HF Communication is provided by Aeronautical Communication Officers attached to Aero Mobile Communication Centre of AASL. This centre had not been upgraded for around 40 years. Therefore, in order to cater to the rapid growth of air traffic in our region this project has been earnestly pursued.

As a result of implementation of this project, it is expected that the efficiency and accuracy of Air Ground Communication Service provided by AASL will be improved with the resultant enhancement of safety in operation of international civil aviation within our Flight Information Region (FIR) in compliance with the requirements stipulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Introduction of state-of-the-art technologies in the infrastructure of air navigation services as mentioned above have been made possible by the commitment and dedication of electronics and air navigation engineering professionals of AASL.

This system interfaces with the existing systems, such as Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN), Air Traffic Message Handling System (AMHS) and Air Traffic Management (ATM) systems at site for relevant data acquisition, communication and synchronisation. Flight Data Processing System (FDPS) shall comprise of Air Situation Display (ASD), Electronic-strip Facilities and Automated CDN (Coordination) message transmission facility.

AASL has been delegated with the responsibility of providing air navigation services within the Sri Lanka air space. 

Accordingly, the air navigation services which include communication, navigation and surveillance are provided within the Sri Lankan air space/Colombo Flight Information Region (VCC FIR), which is around 600,000 square nautical miles and consists of 14 air routes.

The common boundaries with India, India in the north, Indonesia in the east, Australia in the south and Maldives in the west that our FIR has, would give an indication of the vastness of the area covered.