AudioSoft recording for Air Traffic Control - background, benefits and developments

By leveraging modern PC digital technology it is now possible to record multiple types of data, such as voice, radar, meteorological data for less than half the capital expenditure of 10 years ago, achieve significant maintenance and support savings and eliminate the expensive daily logistic functions associated with legacy equipment. All of this whilst realizing a quantum leap in operational capabilities.

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regulations (annexes 10 and 11), states that it is a requirement of all air navigation service providers to make recordings across air traffic service communications systems. In particular Annex 10, Chapter 3.5 defines the requirements for the recording of audio data and Annex 11, Chapter 6, 6-4 states that recording of surveillance data from primary and secondary radar equipment used as an aid to air traffic services, should be automatically recorded for use in accident and incident investigations.

Traditionally, audio data including landline communications, ground to air radio, ground to ground radio has been recorded by reel to reel recorders and more recently with digital recorders. In most instances the primary and secondary radar data has either not been recorded, or done so using separate recording equipment. Similarly, other data, - for instance metrological and CCTV data may also have been recorded on separate equipment. These discrete surveillance recording systems then made it very time consuming or impossible to provide synchronized replay and hence accurately investigate an incident. The replay of radar data has been further complicated by the need to replay radar data on the main radar display equipment, necessitating either an expensive dedicated radar display or the interruption of normal ATC functions. All of these separate systems needed daily changes of archive media, generating additional local maintenance procedures.

However, the advances in PC technology have allowed us to leverage these benefits to provide digital recording systems that can record data from a variety of different sources such as voice, primary and secondary radar, meteorological data, and VoIP, in a single recording system. All of this data can then be instantly accessed and replayed directly on standard PC’s enabling accurate and timely investigations of incidents. There is no longer the need to replay radar data onto the main radar equipment. Instead it can be replayed onto a destktop PC using a high resolution monitor synchronized with the relevant audio communications, resulting in significant cost savings. As the data is stored digitally and the recording systems use modern databasing techniques it is possible to access the data instantly. By using desktop PC’s to replay the data it is also possible to provide Boards of Enquiry with all the relevant information at a separate location. Furthermore data can be readily exported into industry standard formats for rapid distribution. Hence this technology allows ICAO requirements and recommendations to be met in full at a fraction of the cost of previous systems.

But these are not the only benefits. A modern digital recording system can also be configured to store all the recorded data on large, fault tolerant RAID systems. ICAO mandates that data must be stored for a minimum of 31 days data and this has been traditionally achieved through archiving to removable storage media such as tapes or DVD’s. This results in additional media costs, which can be significant over the life of the equipment, and in terms of additional daily tasks.

Furthermore modern computer networks allow centralized monitoring of recorders. Hence it is possible for a large airport control tower or command center to not only monitor all of its own recorders centrally but to at the same time monitor a number of associated regional airport’s recording systems. By using open industry standard software interfaces such as SNMP modern networked recording systems are able to communicate status and alarm information to a central location, or alternatively via SMS to a phone or to an e-mail address anywhere in the world. This status information can also be seamlessly integrated into standard industry monitoring solutions such as Hewlett Packard’s OpenView. Hence this eliminates the need for dedicated personnel to monitor the status of individual recorders. Therefore, modern technology is truly delivering enhanced operational capability, lowering the cost of ownership and dramatically reducing support and maintenance costs.

Detailed analysis of past incidents points the way to improved co-ordination and operational procedures. In doing so, service providers are put on a sure footing to demonstrate quality of service, and provide guidelines for improving services, whilst tightening security in ways both visible and invisible to travelers.

About Ultra Elecronics AudioSoft

Ultra Electronics AudioSoft, one of the leading software systems integration companies for speech and telephony applications in the UK, is at the forefront of the development of digital voice and data recording technology. Markets include Air Traffic Control, Courtroom, Defence, Emergency Services, Law Enforcement and National Security.

AudioSoft’s range of PC based recording, audio analytics and visualise products include AudioPC, Medirva™, AudioPC-CR, AudioPC-IR, AudioPC-LE, AudioPC-HS and SonarPC.

Typical applications include, digital data recorders, conference recorders, interview recorders and surveillance recording.

Satisfied customers include HM Government, The Bank of England, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Dutch Navy, Local Government, Public Authorities, International Airports and Commercial organisations.

Based in Cirencester, AudioSoft was recently named (for the third year) as one of the Top 10 fastest growing technology companies in the South West and Wales by Deloitte and Touche.