Airservices progresses plans for single air traffic system

Government-owned air navigation service provider Airservices Australia has come one step closer to its goal of designing a single air traffic management system for all Australian skies.

The company has contracted Thales Australia to provide advanced software design assurance work for the OneSKY Australia project.

This marks the fourth work order issued under the agreement with Thales to progress the delivery of the new system.

Airservices and the Department of Defence are collaborating to build a single, harmonised, civil-military air traffic control system. Once complete, the organisations expect OneSKY to be the most advanced and integrated air traffic control system in the world.

Thales Australia was selected to work with Airservices and Defence to develop the system in February last year, and initial work orders commenced in July. Negotiations regarding acquisition and support contracts are currently underway.

“The new system, when completed in 2021, will allow us to provide operational efficiency improvements for future growth and ensure we are meeting the demands of our customers and delivering them value for money,” Airservices Australia Acting CEO Jason Harfield said.

OneSKY will replace the separate civil and military systems that have been in operation for more than 15 years and are approaching end of life.

Airservices Australia provides air navigation services including air traffic control, aviation rescue and firefighting.

Image courtesy of Dr. Wendy Longo under CC