Austria modernizes air traffic control with Thales Doppler system

Thales has launched commercially its next-generation Doppler VHF Omnidirectional Radio ranging system, the DVOR 532. At the same time, Austro Control was announced as the launch customer for DVOR 532 with the signature of a frame contract for deployment in Austria.

While aviation increases its reliance on GNSS, the VHF omnidirectional radio remains a critical aviation infrastructure system due to vulnerability of GNSS signals and nearly universal equipage of aircraft to use VOR signals for navigation, Thales said.

The agreement will see Austrian air space equipped with a modern short- and medium-range enroute navigation technology, help to ensure safe and accurate flight navigation across the Austrian airspace.

DVOR 532 delivers superior navigation signal performance and reduced lifecycle costs in an easy to maintain package.

Thales will deliver, install and provide training for up to eight new DVOR systems to Austro Control. Austro Control will begin to take over operation of the systems as flight checks for the new systems are completed, with the first to take place before the end of 2017.

Thales provides air traffic management systems worldwide, with more than 7,000 navigation aids installed in 170 countries.

The DVOR 532 is a ground-based radio navigation aid for short and medium range for en-route and technical guidance. It transmits an omni-directional signal that enables an aircraft to determine its bearing relative to the location of the beacon.

The Doppler version of the VOR system provides a highly precise azimuth signal, suitable for difficult geographical conditions.

The DVOR 532 meets increasingly demanding international design and safety standards such as DO 278/ED 109 for software assurance.