iscoverFor an air traffic controller working in the ever-evolving world of air traffic management, one of the most underappreciated, but yet critical, challenges is knowing exactly which aircraft is talking and where they are. With congested frequencies, overlapping call signs, and aircraft often flying beyond radar range, controllers are sometimes left guessing.
But a new technology from Rohde & Schwarz is quietly changing that dynamic, and turning radio transmissions into a real-time surveillance tool.
Enter CERTIUM® Locate, a sophisticated direction-finding and geolocation system designed to pinpoint the exact source of a radio transmission. By deploying a network of receivers across a region, the system uses time-difference-of-arrival and angle-of-arrival techniques to triangulate the position of each voice communication, displaying the aircraft’s location directly on the controller’s situational display. Unlike radar or ADS-B, this works independently of onboard systems, meaning even aircraft with failed transponders or nav systems can still be tracked via their voice alone.
Rodney Sciortino, Head of Civil Air Traffic Control at Rohde & Schwarz Australia and former Chief Operations Officer (Air Traffic Management) at Airservices Australia, believes CERTIUM® Locate is a game changer. “In many ways, this capability turns traditional ATC on its head,” he says. “We’re no longer just hearing pilots, we’re seeing them, in real time, based on their voice. In non-radar airspace or during emergencies, that’s incredibly powerful.” He highlights the potential for real-world use in scenarios like emergency comms in remote areas, and call sign confusion in busy terminal environments.
Imagine two aircraft in the Sydney TMA, one is Qantas 423, the other Qantas 432. Both respond to a clearance meant for only one of them. In a busy moment, this could easily go unnoticed. With CERTIUM® Locate, the controller would immediately see which aircraft the transmission came from, reducing the risk of a runway incursion or airborne conflict. This added layer of visual confirmation could help prevent an incident before it even starts.
Air Traffic Control location system from Rohde & Schwarz
Now consider a regional turboprop flying between Mount Isa and Alice Springs, well outside of radar or consistent ADS-B coverage. If the aircraft were to suffer a technical failure and issue a Mayday call, CERTIUM® Locate could instantly identify the geographic origin of the transmission. Even if the aircraft’s transponder had failed or navigation systems were compromised, controllers would have a concrete position to relay to emergency services. In a continent as vast and sparsely covered as Australia, this kind of passive surveillance could be the difference between a rapid response and a long, uncertain search.
As Australia’s skies become more congested and airspace more complex, solutions like CERTIUM® Locate offer more than just technical reassurance, they provide operational resilience. “We often think of surveillance as something that starts with radar,” says Sciortino. “But in truth, it can start with something as simple, and essential, as a voice.” For ANSPs and air traffic professionals focused on safety, redundancy, and smarter infrastructure, that could be the most important innovation of all.
