Sensis ADS-B system to provide helicopter surveillance for Norwegian oil and gas platforms

Posted by John McHale
EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y., 1 July 2011. Officials at Avinor AS, the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) for Norway, chose an Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) system from Sensis Corp. to be deployed for helicopter traffic surveillance with oil and gas platforms in the Norwegian area of the North Sea. Sensis ADS-B surveillance will provide air traffic controllers with improved situational awareness and information for search and rescue applications.
The Ekofisk airspace, with more than 160,000 annual helicopter passengers served by Stavanger Airport, utilizes Avinor's Modified-Automatic Dependent Surveillance -- a propriety system that uses GPS and a geostationary satellite communications link -- and partial radar coverage to provide Flight Information Service and Alerting Service.
By implementing Sensis ADS-B deployment, the airspace will be upgraded to support Air Traffic Control Service with a minimum separation of five nautical miles. The ADS-B system will comprise a number of ground stations established at offshore and onshore installations. The ADS-B technology complements the surface multilateration surveillance system Sensis is delivering to Bergen Airport.