Thales Will Supply 66 Ground Surveillance Stations to the Brazilian Air Navigation Service Provider for Increased Commercial Flight Safety

Thales, a global leader in air mobility high technology, announces another partnership with the Brazilian Airspace Control Department (DECEA), the agency of the Brazilian Air Force in charge of air traffic management. Thales will supply and install ADS-B sensors for enhanced safety of commercial civil aviation. These sensors are one of the most modern solutions for air traffic surveillance and the first of its kind deployed by Thales in South America. Thales will install the ADS-B sensors in locations across over 20 Brazilian states.

The ADS-B receives information from the aircraft, such as position, speed, and identification, via transponder, supplementing the surveillance already carried out by secondary radars and providing a much more comprehensive range of data for flight control teams located at airports.

The sensor works as a double-checking, which is deemed a basic premise in civil aviation security procedures. No interference from pilot or flight operators is required, and the data is updated ten times faster than that of current radars. In addition, the sensor is a small piece of equipment, easy to install and maintain, that does not require a high investment in infrastructure.

The contract with DECEA was awarded to Thales after an intense international competition, with the participation of several providers of Air Traffic Management (ATM) equipment, demonstrating, once again, the company's competitiveness and the long-standing trust of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in the Group. With more than 130 installed air surveillance radars and more than 200 Navaids in operation in Brazil and a 20 year relationsip between Thales and DECEA, the Group is proud to share the 1.000th air traffic surveillance radar milestone in Brazil.

In all, Thales will provide 66 stations. Sutech, a company specializing in deployment of aviation systems and infrastructure, will partner with Thales in the agreement and be responsible for gradually installing the sensors in four phases.

ADS-B is on the list of recommendations from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an entity linked to the United Nations (UN) to develop principles and techniques for safe international air navigation. It is a type of technology already widely used in countries where air traffic isintense , such as the United States, and can be an alternative to minimize the overload of traditional radar systems.

“This project demonstrate the company’s successful business model in Brazil working together with experienced local partners to deliver competitive solutions. It also confirms our leading position as ATM sensors providers and renews our long lasting partnership with DECEA.”, comments Luciano Macaferri, Country Director of Thales in Brazil