Wed, Jun 13, 2007
Hey, VERN
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a 3-year
contract to ARINC Inc. to continue providing the FAA with the VHF
Extended Range Network (VERN) which supports air traffic control
communications in the Gulf of Mexico.
The VERN network includes two air/ground stations located on
Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and one at Key West, FL. In combination
with the FAA's coastal radio facilities, VERN coverage enables the
Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) to communicate
with aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico, according to the
company.
The extended range and coverage of VERN ground stations is based
on the unique radio wave signal propagation phenomena present in
the Gulf, known as ducting, and ARINC's unique radio system design
and makes use of the company's special extended range VHF
propagation technique. The VERN system has been proven to provide
extended-range VHF voice communications at distances of more than
400 nautical miles, at an altitude of 18,000 feet.
The company has operated the VERN air/ground stations and
network infrastructure continuously since deploying them in 1998.
The new contract was awarded April 1 and runs through March 31,
2010 if all options are exercised.
ARINC has also designed and operated other VHF radio systems
using VHF extended-range propagation for more than 15 years. Its
Air/Ground International VHF Voice service uses a similar system to
provide Airline Operational Control communications and Air Traffic
Control message relay to aircraft in the Gulf.
VERN directly addresses issues such as traffic growth in the
eastern sector of the Houston Flight Information Region and
recently reduced separation standards.
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