The world’s most important global hub, iGA Istanbul Airport, activated a new level of their pioneering application, Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS), developed in line with its digitalization strategy.
“Routing Service”, the new level of A-SMGCS technology, provides automatic routing functionality for all aircraft and vehicles on airside operations delivering an advanced situation awareness and enhanced operational control.
Integrating the latest technology in the aviation industry into the current applications and procedures is becoming increasingly crucial in order to make an airport more sustainable.
iGA Istanbul Airport carries out the required planning by optimizing the needs of all stakeholders, such as joint projects with airlines, airports, aircraft manufacturers and the appropriate sub-groups for the sector’s dynamic structure, as per the Eurocontrol specifications, accurately meeting the Eurocae performance criteria, and following the rules of national and international organizations.
Aiming to maximize the current runway and taxiway capacity while maintaining maximum safety with increasing air traffic, iGA Istanbul Airport announced the activation of the first application in the world), the “Routing Service (Level 3)” of the Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) technology, fully compliant with DHMI and Eurocontrol Specifications and Eurocae Minimum Aviation Performance Standards.
Deputy General Manager of the State Airports Administration (DHMI) Dr. Cengiz Paşaoğlu, EC-DG MOVE General Manager Henrik Hololei, SESAR JU Executive Director Andreas Boschen, Eurocontrol DG Advisor Haydar Yalçın, AHEN and SAAB officials were among the guests who attended the launch, presented by iGA Istanbul Airport Deputy General Manager Chief Planning Officer and Eurocontrol PRC Member İsmail Hakkı Polat.
This is a win-win situation for all the stakeholders.
İsmail Hakkı Polat stated that the A-SMGCS technology, covering the entire airside operation area of approx. 14 million square meters, including three main runways, two auxiliary runways, 178 taxiways, and 367 stands, has been in use 24/7 at Istanbul Airport since the start of its operations in October 2018.
He added that unique functionalities were developed jointly by the State Airports Administration (DHMI) Electronics & NVAIDS Departments, DHMI Istanbul Airport Air Traffic Tower teams, our industry partner AHEN-SAAB and IGA teams. Polat said:
“Supporting the movement of aircraft and vehicles under all weather conditions and traffic density ‘Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System’ (A-SMGCS) provides the best integration for advanced situational awareness and operational control at iGA Istanbul Airport. We are excited to have activated the new service (Routing Service – Level 3) of the A-SMGCS technology in line with our digitalization strategy,” and highlighted that the system provides safer operations for airports, efficiency for airline companies, and faster transportation opportunities by reducing the duration of the taxi.
The A-SMGCS concept comprises four stages.
A-SMGCS delivers Monitoring (Level 1), Safety Support (Level 2), Direction (Level 3), and Guidance (Level 4), maintaining situational awareness regardless of the weather conditions and allowing performance and operational monitoring of all stakeholders involved in the airside operations.
Increasing the safety and efficiency of the surface movement operations is achieved by identifying and tracking aircraft and vehicle positions, especially in low visibility conditions, through the A-SMGCS System.
The A-SMGCS system helps with the effective management of airside functions, including but not limited to safety, efficiency, airport capacity, the reduction of emissions and noise impact, and in particular increasing the operational productivity.
A-SMGCS systems around the world are generally in limited use at Level 2 due to inadequate infrastructure and high infrastructure improvement investments.
The implementation of Level 3 (Routing Service – Determining the most efficient route for every aircraft/vehicle) and Level 4 (Guidance Service – ensuring that pilots and ground vehicle drivers follow the assigned paths via Taxiway Centerlights), which is in the preparation process, to facilitate the aircraft to use the optimum taxiways for safer and more efficient ground movements at Istanbul Airport will inevitably lead to carbon emission reduction.
