iBorders will be deployed at 28 airports, seaports and land border crossings across Oman. Also, SITA OnAir has worked closely with BULATSA and ROMATSA to set up the network to facilitate communications across ATN, the most advanced data link communications protocol.
PARIS – The Government of Oman has deployed border management systems from air transport and government IT specialist, SITA, to facilitate visitor movement and streamline the Sultanate’s visa and residence permit processes. The agreement establishes a layered approach to border control, providing the Royal Oman Police with an effective, efficient and flexible visa processing and security clearance process, covering eVisas, Advanced Passenger Processing and Entry Exit Visitor Information systems.
Hani El-Assaad, SITA President, Middle East, India & Africa, said: “SITA is providing Oman with a fully integrated border management solution, as well as the tools to manage, monitor and operate its borders effectively. This will enable them to provide the highest quality experience at the first point of contact for its visitors, and will be flexible to facilitate future growth.”
The number of visitors to Oman is growing, and the country is anticipating significant future growth with the Sultanate of Oman’s investment program to attract 12 million visitors by 2020. Passenger traffic at Muscat International Airport has grown 329% since 2007, reaching 9 million passengers in 2014. In addition, nearly half the country’s population is expatriates who require visas.
Under the agreement, SITA is deploying an extensive iBorders solution that encompasses risk assessment of traveller data from air and cruise lines, a comprehensive border control system used at immigration checkpoints across Oman, a complete e-Visa solution and a centralized Visitor Information System. The entire solution, which will be fully integrated into the country’s existing border management systems, provides officers with complete information about each individual, such as biometrics and historical information, so they can focus on high-risk travelers and make timely and fully-informed decisions.
iBorders will be deployed at 28 airports, seaports and land border crossings across Oman, as well as more than 15 regional offices and more than 50 Omani embassies and consulates located across the world. All this is supported by four data centres, providing scalable capacity and redundancy. In addition, SITA delivers a comprehensive training program to ensure all government users and technical staff have the capability to operate the system.
Dan Ebbinghaus, Vice President, Government and Security, SITA, said: “SITA has extensive expertise in delivering complex border management solutions to cater for different countries’ needs. In addition, we have particular expertise in this region because we already provide border management solutions for many of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.”
In addition to its customers in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, more than 20 countries around the world have chosen SITA’s iBorders border management solutions and services, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, Spain, the UK and the USA.
Also, SITA OnAir announced a partnership to improve air traffic communications in the Danube Functional Airspace Block (FAB) supplementing voice with the more reliable data link. Together with air navigation service providers (ANSPs) Bulgarian Air Traffic Services Authority (BULATSA), and the Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration (ROMATSA), SITA OnAir is enabling Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) services to the control centers. This move is in compliance with the EC regulation 29/2009, which comes into force as part of the Single European Sky initiative. The Danube FAB manages some 10% of the overfly air traffic in the European Union.
CPDLC enables air traffic controllers and pilots to communicate via text, rather than the traditional voice communication. This improves the quality of communications and improves the overall safety and efficiency of air traffic management. European regulations mandate that all aircraft flying in Europe and all air traffic control ground systems have to be equipped with CPDLC.
SITA OnAir has worked closely with BULATSA and ROMATSA to set up the network to facilitate communications across ATN, the most advanced data link communications protocol.
Ion-Aurel Stanciu, Director General, ROMATSA, said: “Our partnership with SITA OnAir is a great step forward for the Danube FAB and moves us closer to the Single European Sky. We look forward to benefiting from the efficiencies and safety enhancements data link will bring.”
Georgi Peev, Director General, BULATSA, added: “SITA OnAir’s dedication to the air transport industry and expertise made the implementation of data link a smooth process for BULATSA. Together we are improving the air traffic services for the million flights we manage across the Danube FAB each year.”
SITA OnAir’s partnership with BULATSA and ROMATSA includes the provision of ATN routers and VHF ground stations across each country which will allow both ANSPs to implement datalink communication between the aircraft pilots and ground controllers.
Francois Bardin, Director Air Traffic Solutions, SITA OnAir, said: “By partnering with SITA OnAir, BULATSA and ROMATSA have taken a step forward on the road to the Single European Sky. Flights over the Danube FAB will now enjoy the use of data channels where messages are unambiguous and available on screen in the cockpit. This is an initial step towards implementation of SESAR developed concepts such as the 4D Trajectory Data Link (4DTRAD) Service”.
Other European FABs already enjoying the benefits of a partnership with SITA OnAir include FABEC (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland) and South West FAB (Portugal, Spain).
The Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has also selected SITA OnAir to enhance aircraft communications across Nigeria. SITA OnAir’s advanced systems will enable NAMA to comply with the recommendations of ICAO’s regional Air Navigation Plan and in doing so increase safety and efficiency in Nigerian airspace.
In this multi-year deal, SITA OnAir is supplying Controller Pilot Data Link Communication (CPDLC) and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Contract (ADS-C) solutions and services at the Lagos and Kano Control Centers to enhance long range data communication between air traffic controllers (ATC) and pilots.
Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Managing Director, NAMA, said: “SITA OnAir is already well-known for its superior VHF datalink coverage on the African continent and with its highly reliable services SITA OnAir is the ideal partner for NAMA. The new CPDLC systems at our air traffic control centers in Lagos and Kano will move voice traffic off congested frequencies and allow for accurate data exchange between the controllers and pilots.”
With this new ADS-C capability, the agency will receive automatic position reports from aircraft to its air traffic services. This will enable NAMA to acquire surveillance information from aircraft flying outside of radar coverage.
Philip Clinch, Vice President, AIRCOM, SITA OnAir, said: “NAMA is making significant changes that will ensure increased safety while boosting Nigeria’s airspace capacity. Besides the new FANS capability, NAMA will also benefit from SITA OnAir’s connectivity and technical support.”
Future Air Navigation System (FANS) is the protocol which airlines follow to manage increasing levels of air traffic. With it, an air traffic control center (ATC) can track aircraft along their full route. When an ATC has accurate position data, and knows exactly where an aircraft is, it can reduce distances between aircraft and safely allow more in the airspace.
The use of CPDLC will improve ATC communications in Nigerian airspace. NAMA handles an average of 550 flights daily across the nation’s airports and airlines could see improvement in communication and surveillance efficiency almost immediately.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
