Sensis Launches Airport Vehicle Location Unit, VeeLo, for Low-cost Precision Tracking of Vehicles
Announces Orders from Fraport AG & skyguide
DEWITT, NY – February 18, 2003 – Sensis Corporation today announced the launch of VeeLo®, an airport vehicle location unit designed to operate in conjunction with the widely used Sensis Multistatic Dependent Surveillance (MDS) system as well as standard Advanced-Surface Movement Guidance and Control Systems (A-SMGCS). Sensis also announced it has received two initial orders for VeeLos. Fraport AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide, owner and operator of Frankfurt Airport, has ordered four units for installation on airside vehicles. skyguide, the Swiss air navigation service provider, has ordered fifty units for installation on airside vehicles at Geneva and Zurich airports.
VeeLo is a low-cost, easy to install unit packaged in a sleek, environmentally sealed housing.
The unit installs on the external surface of vehicles operating in the airport movement and apron areas. In addition to the safety benefit of providing air traffic controllers with vehicle position and identity, VeeLo can contribute to airport efficiency through asset tracking and dispatch management.
“VeeLo is a cost-effective way for us to further enhance safety and efficiency at Frankfurt Airport,” says Michael Huhnold, project manager of Fraport AG. “By providing precision tracking of our airport surface vehicles, and fusing that with our surface surveillance system, our controllers can receive a fully integrated view of aircraft and vehicle operations.”
Designed to operate in the licensed 1090 Mhz aviation band and emit the same type of signals as an aircraft transponder, VeeLo can be tracked by multilateration systems that are commonly used for airport surface surveillance. Additionally, VeeLo is architected for compatibility with future technologies such as Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B).
“VeeLo was created in response to strong demand for vehicle tracking capability to complement our MDS surveillance system,” said Marc Viggiano, president of Sensis’ Air Traffic Systems Division. “It underscores Sensis Corporation’s responsiveness and commitment to delighting our customers.”
VeeLo has undergone strenuous testing and is fully compliant with safety, environmental and aviation standards such as the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) DO-260A and ADS-B Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS). To accommodate nearly any installation requirement and concept of operation, configuration software, mounting brackets, cable kits and a safety tether are available.
VeeLo became generally available for purchase in February 2003.
