BRIEF INFO ON CASCADE PROJECT

Project CASCADE (CNS/ATM* Applications Staged Implementation and Conventional Airspace Development) comprises delivery of the following state-of-the art modern Systems and applications in the course of next 3 years:

• Advanced System of aircraft and ground vehicle movements control in Riga International Airport;
• Advanced System of Voice and Data-link information broadcasting/exchange in the sub-network „air traffic controller - pilot”;
• Operational prototype of Controllers Working Position in the environment of prospective Air Traffic Control technologies to be integrated within the current Automated Control System.

Implementation of these Systems and technologies will allow Latvian Air Traffic Control be fully in line with the International Aviation requirements set by International Aviation Organizations such as ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and Eurocontrol (European Organization for Safety in Air Navigation). The Project will result in enhanced aviation safety and secure smooth preparation for implementation of coming service requirements of the air space users.

CASCADE Project is fully coordinated with the outcomes of the accomplished "Baltics CNS/ATM Transition Feasibility Study", which was supported by US TDA. This coordination secures smooth and seamless implementation of new technologies in the sub-region of Baltic States and is considered as a first step toward CNS/ATM implementation in Latvia.

The Contract on CASCADE Systems delivery was awarded to the General Supplier „DORS International Inc.” (USA) and signed on April 28, 2005. More details on the event are available at http://www.lgs.lv/eng/news/arhivs/?doc=449 .

In December 2007, launching of new ATIS/VOLMET/DCL finally made the CASCADE project completed.

The project continued for two and a half years, and as a result LGS now owns several modern specific systems, such as:

• A-SMGCS – Advanced system of aircraft and ground vehicle movement control in Riga International Airport;
• ATIS/VOLMET/D-ATIS/D-VOLMET/DCL – automated information exchange system between an air traffic controller and a pilot relying upon voice communication channels and digital data transfer lines.
• CNS/ATM CWP prototype – a prototype of an air traffic controller’s working plosition integrated within the current ATM system that allows simulating operations in future air navigation environment. 

The Systems’ role and importance can not be overestimated, taking into account current tendency of air traffic growth in Riga Airport and Latvian airspace.