Brazil upgrades air traffic management using SITA’s live aircraft weather data system

The Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo (DECEA), Brazil’s air navigation service provider, is upgrading its technology ahead of the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016. The latest improvement is the deployment of the D-VOLMET service using SITA AIRCOMevamet, which provides live weather information to aircraft during flights over a dedicated data link.

SITA’s technology will send up-to-date meteorological information, covering five flight information regions (FIRs) and 150 airports in Brazil, via data link to aircraft cockpit systems. This transmission of weather information allows updates during flight, in contrast to the current system which provides data to pilots before take-off with updates during flight via voice radio. Sending the updates via data link to cockpit printers instead of by voice enhances safety by providing clearer information on any significant weather changes that require pilots and air traffic controllers to change the pre-defined flight plan.

Brig Mendes, General Director, DECEA, said: “As we prepare to welcome the world to Brazil, it is important we have the best possible technology in place. Meteorological factors were responsible for a significant number of air traffic delays in the first half of 2012 and by providing high quality, reliable and above all live data on meteorological conditions, we can help pilots and airlines reduce those delays significantly. Full knowledge of all the weather conditions also helps improve safety by giving the pilots the tools to avoid bad weather as it develops.”

DECEA has an important role in controlling the world’s airspace, since it covers 8.5 million square kilometers of sovereign space, as well as overseeing the major routes that cross the South Atlantic from South America to Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Philip Clinch, Vice President Aircraft Solutions, SITA, said: “DECEA is investing in air traffic management (ATM) system modernization as the volume of air traffic in Brazil rises and SITA welcomes DECEA’s selection of our D-VOLMET system which has the immediate potential to realize safety, efficiency and operational benefits for DECEA and airspace users alike.”

DECEA will issue an announcement when they make the SITA AIRCOMevamet based D-VOLMET service available for all aircraft using Brazil’s airspace.