NAVAIDs System Status Indication and Monitoring by ATCOs

Navigational Aids (NAVAIDs) system status monitoring is traditionally installed locally within the airport and the two main end users are the Air Traffic Safety Electronics Personnel (ATSEP) and the tower Air Traffic Control Operator (ATCO). The purpose of this paper is to highlight the limitations of this approach that is adopted by many Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), the associated risks and present a more robust approach. The paper will also highlight an ANSP need to overhaul its monitoring configuration to encompass at a minimum, the ATSEP centralized monitoring center, regional monitoring station (if applicable, depending on the geographical size of an ANSP), and local monitoring station. Moreover, it serves ATCOs Tower NAVAIDs status indication stations, Approach (APP) NAVAIDs status indication stations, and Area Control Center (ACC) NAVAIDs status indication stations. Human factor risk must be considered not only when evaluating the need for the various ATCOs to have a real-time status indicator, other than relying on other means of communication between the ATCOs, but also when considering the application of the status monitors for the ATCOs. The benefits of such an approach are as follows; Benefits for ATCOs by Reducing the time for information dissemination. (Traditionally done verbally) and increasing the accuracy of the information as it reduces the human factor risk. Also, it benefits ATSEP to allow for a quicker response from ATSEP to any issues, allows the ability to remotely diagnose issues in preparation of repair, allows the ability to remotely repair minor faults, and reducing the overall cost of maintenance.