A $70 million USD development of the new Mukah Airport in Malaysia was completed in June 2021. The new airport can cater for up to 264,000 passengers per year, and features a new terminal building, 1.5km runway, air traffic control tower, offices, fire station and passenger waiting facilities.
An air traffic control simulation solution was required by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) to train air traffic controllers at Mukah Airport. Malaysia-based integrator of aviation technologies, International Aeradio Sdn Bhd Ltd worked as part of a consortium to upgrade the airport, and signed a contract with Airways International in October 2019 to deliver a 220° TotalControl LCD tower simulator with two controller positions and two simulator pilot positions, and a procedural simulator with one controller position.
Airways International Ltd (AIL) partnered with International Aeradio to provide a turnkey simulation solution for the new Mukah Airport, and the sim build began in AIL’s’ Christchurch facilities in November 2019.
Installation and commissioning was due to occur onsite in April 2020. However with the Covid-19 pandemic swiftly sweeping its way around the world and global travel restrictions in place, the project had to be halted while the team considered how it could adapt its simulator delivery and commissioning process to deliver the solution remotely.
Following the immense challenges facing AIL as a result of Covid-19 border and travel restrictions, the business needed to completely reinvent the way it designed, deployed and delivered its air traffic control simulators globally.
With the Mukah Airport simulator project on hold, the AIL team put its Covid-19 mitigation plan into place for the Avinor simulator project – creatively using cloud-based technology to enable remote delivery of factory acceptance testing, installation and commissioning. The Airways and Avinor teams worked thousands of kilometres apart during the entire eight-month project.
Following the successful remote delivery, installation and commissioning of the Avinor simulator solution, AIL then turned its focus to the Mukah Airport project. AIL’s simulator specialists guided technicians onsite at Mukah Airport through the installation of hardware, and simulator user training was delivered remotely via the Airways Knowledge Online (AKO) virtual academy.
Site acceptance testing was completed onsite, with seamless engagement by AIL staff remotely from Christchurch. The simulator solution was commissioned following successful site acceptance testing in May 2021.
A challenging project during challenging times requires innovations. With tremendous support from everyone including Ibraco Construction Sdn Bhd (ICSB as the main contractor) and AIL, we did it. We wish CAAM all the best and will always be available to provide local support for the sim system throughout its life cycle.
Major Tan
International Aeradio Program Manager
The turnkey simulation solution is now in use by CAAM air traffic controllers for training at Mukah Airport, where they can control traffic in highly realistic exercises that mimic the real world. Imitating the full air traffic control flight information region, and utilising AIL’s unique TrueView technology for life-like graphics, the TotalControl simulator enhances both the quality and speed of ATC training, while significantly reducing on-the-job training time.
With Covid-19 presenting a significant disruption to the aviation industry, AIL’s innovative, cost-effective remote installation solution enables air navigation service providers to continue ATC training during travel and border restrictions.
With Covid-19 presenting a significant disruption to the aviation industry, AIL’s innovative, cost-effective remote installation solution enables air navigation service providers to continue ATC training during travel and border restrictions.
Mukah Airport, Malaysia
220° TotalControl LCD tower simulator with two controller positions and two simulator pilot positions
Procedural simulator with one controller position.
