Key Benefits

The ICS 200/60 is one of the most stable VCS platforms. It has the unique advantages that all customers are running the same global valid software releases and can run at the same time different generations of hardware within the same system. The system is hence fully backward compatible to enable easy lifetime management to all customers.

With the ICS 200/60, a new VoIP kernel and controller working positions are made available, enabling all customers that are operating ICS 200/60 systems to smoothly upgrade their systems to become fully compatible with the latest standards in the most economical way, without interfering with the on-going operation.

The ICS 200/60 is a full VoIP solution with the advantage the old ICS 200/60 legacy interfaces as well as legacy operator positions can optionally be used in combination with the latest VoIP communication servers and VoIP controller working positions.

Flexible Operator Position User Interface

The operator interface is based on a touch sensitive colour flat screen, headsets and handsets connected to audio connection panels and loudspeaker panels as an integrated operating platform for radio and telephone communications.

The layout of the user interface is adaptable to project specific requirements by means of configuration. The display is typically divided into areas that contain fixed control keys and areas with several sub-pages. The layout and the contents of the sub-pages, as direct access keys or radio channel selection keys, are configurable by the configuration program of the ICS 200/60 management system.

Automatic detection of the type of audio equipment offers highest flexibility in parallel usage of different types of audio equipment. The system automatically adjusts audio settings such that different types of headsets with dynamic or electret microphones may be used at an operator position.

Safe Operation

For safety reasons the microphones and earpieces are constantly supervised and a failure or a disconnection of a microphone or earpiece is reported and audio typically is rerouted to a loudspeaker automatically. The inability to go on-air may be reported optically and as warning tone.

Echo-Free Centre Communications

Audio propagation delay from microphone to any loudspeaker or earpiece within a centre is below 10 msec avoiding a controller hearing its own voice from its own or an adjacent loudspeaker as echo.

Advanced Radio Frequency Management Functions

The ICS 200/60 provides advanced frequency management tasks and functions:

Best Signal Selection based on Fast Fourier Transformation and evaluation of the articulation index of the received signals

• Automatic Transmitter Selection based on BSS receiver localisation and automatic transmitter verification
• Climax Operation (parallel keying of transmitters using frequency offset), including dynamic delay compensation to compensate different network delays
• Cross-Coupling (retransmission), selectable for all frequencies available at the operator position. Multiple coupling groups with compatible frequencies may be pre-configured
• Controlling multi-frequency radios including control modes for multi-channel radio pool access and commutation by backup radio
• Common usage of radio channels by several, networked systems enabling airspace delegation, including coupling/retransmission over several systems
• Supplementary military functions such as seizure of radio channels for mission operation

Standard Compliant VoIP (ED‑137B / ED‑138)

The ICS 200/60 provides VoIP according to EUROCAE ED‑137B and is fully compliant to the Vienna Agreement.

Phased Transition to VoIP (Radio)

ED‑137B VoIP Radios and analogue Radios connected through to the legacy protocol gateway may be operated in parallel.

For uses where on-air side tone is important the legacy protocol gateway provides low-delay audio connectivity to the operator positions.

In any other cases we propose to connect to ED-137B VoIP radios directly instead of using an ED-137B VoIP gateway in front of the radio. Due to the intrinsic audio delay of ED-137B VoIP connections the operator position has to present to the controller an artificial side-tone. For safety reasons detection and reporting of simultaneous call transmissions is highly recommended. ED-137B VoIP gateways by design do not report simultaneous call transmission and are not recommended to be used.

The ICS 200/60 supports redundant radio access via usage of mixed technologies. By redundantly connecting radios with VoIP ED‑137B and E1 trunk (or analogue lines) seamless and automatic fail-over scenarios may be implemented.

Sector Delegation and Resource Sharing

ICS 200/60 supports inter-ATC sector delegation by automatically relaying phonecalls arriving e.g. at a closed ATC to a neighbour ATC and by exporting local radios to neighbour ATCs. Phone relaying as well as radio export to neighbour ATCS is supported via VoIP ED‑137B, 2 Mbps E1 trunks and 64 kbps links. The necessary protocol conversion is performed by the relying/exporting ICS 200/60.

Exporting local radios to third party VCSs is achieved by presenting the exported radios as if they were ED‑137B VoIP radios.

Phone relaying to third party VCSs works as long as they support standardised protocols like SIP, ED-137B, ATS-QSIG, ATS-R2, ISDN, PSTN, LB, …

The ICS 200/60 supports redundant ATC centre interconnectivity via usage of mixed technologies. By redundantly interconnecting other ATCs with VoIP ED‑137B and E1 trunks (or analogue lines) automatic fail-over scenarios may be implemented.

Smooth System Migration and Modernization

Every former Rev. C and Rev. B of the ICS 200/60 system may at any time be refreshed to the current VoIP solution according to ED‑137B and thus provides a perfect and smooth migration capability. This results in a cost effective VCS modernisation.

The ICS 200/60 is future proof for upcoming ATM challenges like load and resource sharing.

High Availability Radio Communications

ICS 200/60 fully supports parallel access to radios over redundant networks using ED‑137B Linked Sessions functionality allowing seamless switch-over to the superior wide area network or in case of network outages.

Note: For redundancy reason it is recommended to enforce physically independent WANs from different Network Providers.

High Availability System

The high availability of the ICS 200/60 is achieved by redundant communication paths, redundant VCS internal networks, distributed processing, continuous fault diagnostics and short repair times.

For an increase in immunity against software instability, we developed the “Enhanced Parallel Mode” massively reducing the probability of a system failure. System parts that are running in parallel are slightly running through different software paths massively reducing the probability of running into the same bug.

Geographical Distribution

All subsystems such as communication server equipment, network switches, operator positions and interface sub-racks may be installed in different rooms, floors and even be distributed to different buildings.

External Networking

Various options exist to network with neighbour ATCs:

VoIP according to EUROCAE ED‑137B

• Standard SIP/RTP

• 2 Mbps E1 (also redundant)
• 64 kbps E0 links

The ICS 200/60 provides access to all telephone networks commonly used for air traffic control, including VoIP, ISDN PRA, ISDN BRA, ATS‑R2 (MFC‑R2), ATS‑No5, ATS‑QSIG or 2 Mbps/64 kbps routing and IVA signalling.

Depending on the network capabilities, failures on lines are immediately recognised or recognised through automatic periodic tests.

The links to remote radio sites can be based on analogue or digital lines. For the digital lines, the ICS 200/60 supports VoIP (ED‑137B), 2 Mbps trunks and 64 kbps links with voice data compression.

Sophisticated System Management and Integration in Umbrella Management Systems

The main features of the ICS 200/60 configuration and supervision system are:

Graphical status presentation and direct navigation to detailed information;

• An alarm window to view and acknowledge alarms and noticeable system events;
• Event logging with on-line event list and log history function
• On-line reconfiguration including operator role allocation
• Statistical data generation of radio traffic and telephone connections
• Comprehensive user management, enabling user right dependent access rights and system views
• Remote management access
• Third party alarm and availability management by the usage of SNMPv1, SNMPv2 and SNMPv3

Easy System Installation

• All wired communication connections between the various units are based on widely available CAT6 or CAT7 or FO cabling. The operator positions support beside redundant copper based Ethernet access, redundant connection to single mode or multimode FO links by the usage of SFP modules. The operator position supports supervised dual wide-range AC and dual wide-range DC powering. Touch screen and audio connection panels are powered directly by the operator position avoiding separate power cabling and supervision.
• Some of the ICS 200/60 customers install and extend systems themselves and only require little assistance on demand.

Easy System Maintenance

The ICS 200/60 is easy to maintain due to its design principles:

• No preventive maintenance required

• Hot-swappable hardware modules
• Changing of boards is as simple as changing a light bulb
• Powerful supervision application of the management system

Long-Term Protection of Investment

The ICS 200/60 assures your investment:

• Latest technology
• Compatibility to Current and new Communication Standards used in ATC-environment
• Extension with new and supplementary functions
• Sharing of the hardware and software investments with other customers due to long-term product roadmap which enables a smooth system upgrade to the latest release at any time
• To best protect the customer’s investment, all installed ICS 200/60 can be upgraded to the current state and future improvements of VoIP