Leonardo has been leading the air traffic control and surveillance in Turkey since its SMART (Systematic Modernisation of ATM Resources in Turkey) project was inaugurated.

SMART is a unique ATC example providing testing, simulation and training missions as well as a seamless disaster-recovery capability recognize top class suppliers in the ATC field and the project already developed by Leonardo has been operational since 2015.

In the framework of the Program for the Systematic Modernization of ATM Resources in Turkey (SMART) Leonardo has also provided a fully integrated Approach and Tower Center embedded with the SMART system delivered by the company. It will be installed in the Atatürk APP Center and the new Istanbul Third Airport, the new and biggest international airport in Europe, with future six runways capacity hosting 250 airlines.

Technological innovation represents a cornerstone in Leonardo’s worldwide offer and the company’s state of the art SMART (Systematic Modernization of ATM Resources in Turkey) system acquired by Turkey’s General Directorate of State Airports (DHMI), reflects a significant contribution to the innovative solutions for a comprehensive modernization of ATM systems in Turkey by enhancing the country’s ATC infrastructure and services. Deployed in Ankara, with a backup in Istanbul, the SMART system supports air traffic management operations in 50 of Turkey’s airspace sectors (both upper and lower) located in Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Ercan, Dalaman and Bodrum. The system connects more than 20 remote control towers encompassing over 600 ATC-related workstations. Uniquely in the field of international ATC, Leonardo’s system provides testing, simulation and training missions as well as a seamless disaster-recovery capability. In the event of a disaster, air traffic operations safely and swiftly move from Ankara to Istanbul with no loss of data or system performance. Flight information from the regions is securely transferred, along with communications between ATC operators and pilots, airlines and airports.

All facilities connected by the ATC system are able to monitor and share air traffic information including surveillance, flight plans, meteorological information, aeronautical and auxiliary data. Turkish radio and voice communications are accessible through digital VoIP (Voice over IP) technology. Connections are safeguarded by ground and satellite-based Wide Area Networks (WAN), which can be switched automatically when necessary. This design allows the system to meet Turkey’s needs as they respond to a growth in air traffic beyond 2020.