The most advanced stripless Air Traffic Control System in Europe has reached an important milestone in December 2022 when the first operational commissioning of the En-Route management system was inaugurated in Reims. The complete renewal of the “Direction des Services de la navigation aérienne`s” (DSNA) Air Traffic Management system started in 2010 with the start of the project 4-Flight. It is a collaboration between DSNA and Thales. As next steps, 4-Flight will continue to be extended to the other En-Route centres by 2025.

The French Air Navigation Service Provider will receive some of the most innovative flight centres across Europe, designed to handle increasingly dense and complex air traffic in the future. The systems are adapted to the complexity of the Paris Region Approach, one of the most complex approach areas in Europe. Aiming for a cleaner and more digital aviation, the system was designed hand in hand with the future users. The involvement of DSNA controllers and technical operators results in the latest generation of human machine interface technology. As next steps, 4-Flight will continue to be extended to the other En-Route centres by 2025.

For an ideal operation Thales decided to use Guntermann & Drunck’s (G&D) KVM solutions. These ensure optimum system access – providing best possible working conditions to the controllers. With reduced routine tasks the comfort for controllers will be increased. Sophisticated controller tools and safety nets are going to increase security. For further reliability advanced redundancy concepts based on G&D KVM switches are implemented.

Air Traffic Control requires permanent concentration. Therefore KVM technology from G&D offers solutions that allow operators and computers to be separated, moving the noisy, distracting computers into dedicated areas. G&D’s extenders and switches are deployed in various Air Traffic Control Centers around the world. In addition to their efficient video bandwidth, G&D’s high quality devices offer special security features such as redundancy concepts and preventive monitoring providing the system safety required in ATC. Numerous ANSPs trust in G&D when it comes to freeing up space and improving both working conditions and system availability in ATC environments.

 

Image: The 4-Flight human-machine-interface is optimized by KVM systems from G&D
Source: © by THALES