FOR INCREASED CAPACITY, FUNCTIONALITY AND RELIABLE, SECURE COMMUNICATIONS


SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED BY AIR

Aware of the immediate need for system expansion, Motorola Solutions supplied MOTOTRBO radios with a pre-installed MPT1327 option board prior to switchover. These could be used on both the existing analogue trunked system and on the new MOTOTRBO Capacity Max system; and, once the new system was ready to install, Airadio managed the system integration, programming and testing at Giza’s premises. Then, working in close collaboration, they gradually deployed the new architecture, with no loss of service. They ran full site acceptance tests and training and, in the name of sustainability, the components of the analogue system, which are still fully operational, will be reused at the smaller TAV Ohrid Airport in south-west Macedonia. Giza is supplying the ongoing maintenance for both systems.

The new infrastructure comprises a Capacity Max System Server and four SLR 5500 repeaters with Capacity Max Advantage licences to give functionality over and above the DMR Tier III standard and Skopje Airport has equipped its teams with around 200 MOTOTRBO DP4801 digital portable two-way radios and 50 MOTOTRBO DM4601 mobile two-way radios. Capacity Max and the MOTOTRBO radio management software give Skopje Airport a centralised overview and control of the radio traffic, devices and talk groups, of which there are currently 45 at the airport; these include duty managers, ground handling, flight operations, chief leaders, cleaners, push back teams, catering, VIP, security, emergency services, technical department, cargo, air traffic control and fuelling. Currently, 80% of communications are voice and 20% data.

“AIRADIO AND GIZA HAVE WORKED TOGETHER TO ENSURE THAT THE DEPLOYMENT OF OUR MOTOTRBO CAPACITY MAX RADIO NETWORK FROM MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS HAS BEEN A TOTAL SUCCESS. USER FEEDBACK HAS BEEN EXCELLENT AND THE SYSTEM IS RELIABLE, EASY TO OPERATE AND HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED THE CAPACITY OF OUR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS. MOREOVER, WE KNOW WE CAN EXPAND THE SYSTEM AS THE AIRPORT DEVELOPS IN THE FUTURE, WITH THE OPTION TO UTILISE ALL THE ENHANCED FUNCTIONALITY A DIGITAL RADIO SYSTEM HAS TO OFFER.”

Sheval Sinani, Chief of Electrical Installation, TAV Skopje Airport

The system was deployed in conjunction with the SmartPTT PLUS control room solution, for central voice dispatch, text messages, fleet administration, alarm and lone worker, email, job ticketing, event logging and communication recording. Skopje Airport is also aware of the optional features the software can offer such as GPS tracking and telephone interconnect, which it could deploy in the future.

BENEFITS
  • More reliable, clearer, faster voice and data communications across the entire airport site (previously 80% coverage, now 100%)
  • Smooth upgrade and transition from analogue to digital
  • Increased capacity from three to seven traffic channels with the same number of repeaters and frequencies; missed calls eliminated
  • Enhanced functionality, such as job ticketing, with future capabilities being investigated
  • Ease of ongoing management of talk groups, recordings and radio traffic monitoring with MOTOTRBO radio management software
  • Improved system security against cyber threats, for example
  • Better incident traceability with event logging and call recording
  • Excellent end user feedback including: increased efficiency, speed of operation and communications, ease of use and excellent battery life extending over 24 hours