NAV CANADA enters final stage of nationwide Instrument Landing System replacement program

OTTAWA, Ontario, 20 June 2014. NAV CANADA has acquired an additional 15 Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) from Indra Navia AS as it nears completion of its nationwide ILS replacement program. More than 110 state-of-the-art ILS in total will have been acquired to replace legacy systems and provide the capability in new locations.

"The completion of this program represents a significant milestone for NAV CANADA," says Rudy Kellar, executive vice president, service delivery. "Each replacement improves the reliability of service for our customers and reduces our own maintenance costs."

Indra Navia will supply 15 NORMARC 7000B ILS over the next three years, under the 4th phase of the NAV CANADA ILS replacement program. The NORMARC ILS is the model acquired during previous phases of the upgrade program to replace legacy systems, most which were originally commissioned between the 1970s and 1990s. The ILS replacement program represents a significant component of the close to $2 billion investment in infrastructure renewal NAV CANADA has made since the company began operating the air navigation system in 1996.

An ILS is a precision approach system that provides properly equipped aircraft with navigational guidance signals and information on a cockpit display which helps guide pilots accurately to the point of landing in periods of reduced visibility and low cloud conditions.

The main elements of an ILS are the localizer and glide path transmitters and antenna structures providing horizontal and vertical guidance, as well as associated control and monitoring equipment. Installation of the new ILS will be completed by NAV CANADA.

"This is a proven and foundational technology for air navigation service providers across the globe," says Kellar. "The system-wide upgrade of our ILS is made possible by the dedication and perseverance of our employees, and will have lasting benefits for our customers."

NAV CANADA is the country's private sector civil air navigation services provider. With operations from coast to coast to coast, NAV CANADA provides air traffic control, flight information, weather briefings, aeronautical information services, airport advisory services and electronic aids to navigation.