Airports

ADB SAFEGATE to provide turnkey A-VDGS and apron management solution at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Streamlining gate operations and traffic flow through automation and integration

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada’s largest and busiest airport. Operated by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), the airport is a hub for about 456,000 flights a year and over 47 million passengers annually. Toronto Pearson has been operating ADB SAFEGATE’s laser-based visual docking guidance system (VDGS) since 1997, and has come to rely on Safedock’s 3D laser scanning technique to ensure safe and precise aircraft docking.

When looking to boost operational efficiency and safety through automation, the GTAA
needed a gate solution with more advanced functionality and integration capabilities to support collaborative decision making on the apron. After a competitive review of the latest technologies, the GTAA once again turned to ADB SAFEGATE to deploy its latest Safedock T1 advanced visual docking guidance system (A-VDGS) and SafeControl Apron Management (SAM) integration solution. Automating the aircraft parking process at Toronto Pearson with the Safedock T1 will help airlines park aircraft in all kinds of weather conditions and create a safer operation by reducing the opportunity for error. By connecting the A-VDGS with other systems and equipment on the apron, via the SAM system, the airport has support for Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) on the apron and can automatically share flight information, gate status and turnaround milestones in real-time with all stakeholders to streamline operations.

“The Safedock A-VDGS and SafeControl Apron Management will become a vital component of our airside operations at Toronto Pearson. A more automated system will help us improve performance by turning gates more efficiently and will allow us to respond better during adverse conditions while also enhancing safety on the ramp,” said Chris Miles, Director, Operations Aviation Services, GTAA. “ADB SAFEGATE has been a valuable partner for the last 20 years and we are pleased to be working with them on this key project.”

Integration to improve safety and efficiency includes the following:

The Safedock A-VDGS will be interlocked with the passenger boarding bridges (PBB) to ensure the bridges are in a safe position to dock aircraft.

The Safedock internal cameras will be integrated with the airport’s Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) System to enhance security and situational awareness in the apron area and provide information and feedback during incidents.

Option to integrate with Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to provide status of equipment and track turn milestones.

SAM will interface with airport’s Enterprise Service Bus (ESB) to communicate with external systems such as flight information, lightning warning, resource management and collaborative decision making systems.

“Toronto Pearson was among the very first Safedock A-VDGS customers in the world. Our longstanding association has given us an understanding of their business and operations that will be incorporated into this comprehensive ramp solution that will help future-proof their operation and allow their A-CDM system to work from approach to departure. This will make it easier to manage apron operations and ensure the highest level of safety and efficiency,” added Christian Onselaere, CEO, ADB SAFEGATE.

Delivery, installation and commissioning of the project will be undertaken in phases
commencing December 2017 and concluding by November 2018.

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