Another First In The World For Fiji Airports

Fiji Airports was the first in the world to transition from procedural control to surveillance control, when it introduced surveillance control through automatic dependent surveillance–broadcast (ADS-B) technology in the Fiji domestic airspace.

ADS-B is an advanced surveillance technology that combines an aircraft’s positioning source, aircraft avionics, and a ground infrastructure to create an accurate surveillance interface between aircraft and air traffic management.

The success followed an earlier initiative when the new Aurora Air Traffic Management (ATM) system was commissioned at Nadi Air Traffic Management Centre.

“The new Aurora System integrates Oceanic, Approach, and Tower Control capabilities and includes a new ATC Simulator to train air traffic controllers in an ADS-B surveillance environment,” Fiji Airports chief executive officer Mesake Nawari said.

“This system integrates industry-leading procedural airspace management with the functionalities and tools needed to manage traffic in a surveillance environment.

“It is without equal in the industry, in terms of capability, to manage mixed airspaces, ease of use, and ability to improve the efficiency of the airspace.

“The system upgrade modernises our ATM system and provides air traffic controllers with the latest ATM technology, including electronic flight strips, advanced flight and surveillance data processing, and training capabilities.”

The air traffic management system used by Fiji Airports was one of the world’s best for managing procedural control in Oceanic airspace, integrated with the capabilities and tools needed to manage traffic in the domestic environment.

“This approach allows for optimal fuel-efficient routing in the procedural environment with reduced separation minima for airspace efficiency, and gives controllers the tools they need to provide ADS-B based surveillance in enroute and approach phases of flight.”

Fiji Airports continues to break barriers in air traffic management team is breaking barriers in gender representation with currently 40 per cent female representation in a traditionally male dominated workforce.

“Fiji has also successfully implemented the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) Global Reporting Format (GRF) for our two international airports Nadi and Nausori in November 2021,” Mr Nawari said.

New projects and initiatives in air traffic management include the:

Transition from aeronautical information service (AIS) to aeronautical information management (AIM),

Introduction of remote tower technology, and

Implementation of system wide information management (SWIM).

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