The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Thales recently signed a SG$300 million (US$212.7 million) contract for a new Air Traffic Control system, LORADS III (Long Range Radar and Display Systems III). LORADS III, a state-of-the-art next-generation air Traffic control (ATC) system, will enable air Traffic controllers to safely handle increasing air Traffic beyond the next decade, according to the CAAS. The system will improve the efficiency of ATC operations through better sequencing of flights, enabling aircraft to fly at more optimum flight levels, speeds and routes. This approach ultimately translates into savings in both time and fuel, enabling greener skies.
The CAAS has also signed a SG$12 million (US$8.5 million) deal with Stratech Systems for a runway surveillance system designed to detect foreign objects and debris. The iFerret system will be deployed along Runways 1 and 2 at Singapore’s Changi Airport and is the first commercial application of the system, which detects, identifies, tracks and displays foreign objects in real-time. Aircraft repairs, flight delays and airport maintenance stemming from foreign object damage (FOD) costs the global aerospace industry an estimated US$4 billion a year, according to the CAAS. The contract was awarded following a 15-month pilot trial conducted at Changi Airport.