Unique System FZE, along with its partner MicroStep-MIS, has announced that it will supply an AWOS (Automated Weather Observation System) and ATIS (Airport Traffic Information Service) to an international airport in the UAE
MicroStep-MIS reportedly specialises in the development and manufacturing of monitoring and information systems, processing of acquired data, research and numerical modelling.
The company’s key field activities cover meteorology, aviation weather observation systems, road weather information systems, marine systems, seismology, radiation monitoring systems, crisis information systems among many others.
Unique System FZE, integrated turnkey subsea and offshore solutions provider, will purchase, install and commission the AWOS and ATIS according to international (ICAO) and UAE (GCAA) regulations, the company said.
The system comprises of:
• Automatic Weather Stations near RWY thresholds that serves as Wind Measurement Systems contain sensors with accessories and data logger mounted on ten metre high fully frangible pole masts located by TDZ and Stop End of the runway.
• RVR Measurement System based on forward-scatter metres equipped with background luminance (ambient light) sensor. RVR instruments are mounted on 2.5m high mast located near TDZ, MID and Stop END points of the runway.
• Cloud Base Measurement System includes laser ceilometer located close to the DVOR site for precision approach runway direction.
• AWOS Central Computing System: Dual main servers in hot-failover (master / hot standby) high availability configuration collecting data from data-logger, RVR sensors, wind transmitters and ceilometer, processing and archiving data.
• MET Observer’s and Forecaster’s Workstations: PCs equipped with the software supporting METAR, SPECI and SYNOP messages (creation, receiving, sorting, archiving and utilisation) installed in the meteorological office.
• Aviation Weather Display: PCs are dedicated for receiving and displaying all aviation related local weather data coming from the measurement and Observer’s workstation. Installed at TWR, APP/radar and other ATC operation positions.
• ATIS (Airport Traffic Information Service) Voice Reporting System: Server grade PC Workstation equipped with text-to-speech voice synthesiser engine and software for processing MET and ATC/ATM input data and outputting the voice audio signal to VHF ground-to-air radio transmitter to provide pilots of the approaching aircraft with actual MET and ATC/ATM information in 24/7 automatic operation.
According to the solutions provider, all needed measuring devices (visibility metres, ceilometer, automatic weather stations / data loggers) are connected to the Central Computing IMS (Integrated Meteorological System) System. Calculations for RVR and Cloud base are performed by the central system. The other meteorological values (QFE, QFF, QNH, Ta, Td...) are calculated by the system as well, Unique Maritime FZE said.
Ian Huggins, general manager at Unique System FZE said, “Unique maritime FZE has again proven how flexible we are as an installation and commissioning partner, and that the depth of our resources, in particular the ability of our engineers to easily transfer their capabilities into the aviation sector from the marine, survey and remote meteorological scopes of work we do on a daily basis. The rigour in which we measure and manage our safety management systems as a normal part of our daily operations allowed us to operate confidently when we were airside of an international airport, I am proud of the efforts of the project and engineering team in completing this airfield installation in the height of summer in the UAE, furthermore the strategic partnership we share with MicroStep-MIS is critical in enabling us to provide these types of services. The quality of their engineers and technical proficiency provides us with great confidence when tackling these types of projects.”
