Saab Sensis Corporation, a subsidiary of defense and security company Saab, has achieved operational status from the Dubai Air Navigation Services (DANS) for its surface multilateration system at Dubai International Airport (DXB).

The system is providing DANS air traffic controllers with comprehensive, precise surveillance of aircraft operating on the surface of the 13th busiest airport in the world for increased safety and efficiency.

At DXB, Saab Sensis' multilateration data is being fused with other surveillance sources into an Indra Navia Systems Advanced - Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS). The multilateration system, the first such use of the technology at DXB, covers all runways, taxiways and gate areas of the airport.

“As the Middle East's busiest airport, Dubai International demands reliable, proven technologies that ensure the safe operation of the airport and allows us to maximize efficiency. Saab Sensis multilateration fulfills our requirements for enhanced situational awareness across the entire growing airport,” said Yousuf Prizada, Vice President, Airfield and Infrastructure, Dubai Aviation City Corp. Engineering Projects.

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

With a higher update rate and greater positional accuracy than traditional radar, Saab Sensis multilateration delivers effective surveillance for increased safety, capacity and efficiency of airspace and surface operations. By employing advanced processing techniques, a Saab Sensis multilateration system uses the minimal number of sensors for a less complex, lower lifecycle cost solution.

Additionally, each multilateration sensor deployed by Saab Sensis supports Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B), providing an infrastructure that is ready for today's surveillance needs and tomorrow's avionics.

“Our multilateration system delivers the precise surveillance needed for the airport today while providing a flexible infrastructure that can easily adapt as the airport grows. In addition to DXB, Saab Sensis is becoming the multilateration provider of choice in the Middle East with our technology being deployed at King Abdulaziz, King Fahad and Doha airports,” said Ken Kaminski, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Saab Sensis.

Almost 100 sites worldwide have chosen Saab Sensis multilateration to enhance safety, efficiency, capacity and cost savings through airport surface surveillance, wide area surveillance and airport surface management. In addition, the Saab Sensis conflict detection and alerting system, Safety Logic, is deployed in more than 45 airport surface movement guidance and control systems worldwide.