Exelis to Provide San Francisco Airport with Surveillance Offerings; Ted Carinol Comments

Exelis has been selected by San Francisco International airport to provide ground vehicle and aircraft surveillance offerings to improve airport safety.

Exelis is set to provide SFO with its Symphony vehicle movement area transponder (VMAT) and Symphony MobileVue FAA-approved solutions, what is the sixth airport to use Exelis systems.

Ted Carniol, general manager for commercial aviation solutions at Exelis, said that their Symphony programs should give airport operations staff and vehicle operators improved visibility for operations on the tarmac.

“Access in the field to an easy-to-use, portable device helps to ensure the safety of airfield personnel, passengers and crew during regular and irregular operations,” said Carniol.

With MobileVue providing a real-time display of aircraft in the terminal area, VMAT can transmit positions and unique call signs for ground vehicle operations, allowing the FAA, ATCs, personnel and pilots to view and track the VMAT-equipped vehicles.

“Adding these transponders will enable SFO to precisely track all vehicles on the airfield, reinforcing our overall commitment to safety and security,” said SFO Chief Operating Officer, Ivar Satero. “We look forward to the benefits this system should provide to airport staff, during our runway construction and beyond.”

Five initial VMAT units have been deployed at San Francisco International, with another 80 to delivered this summer.