Airways New Zealand to conduct four year ATM system upgrade

Airways New Zealand signed (07-Mar-2017) a NZD58 million (USD33.6 million), four year ATM system upgrade contract with Leidos. The Leidos Skyline X system will replace Airways New Zealand's two existing ATM platforms, which are nearing the end of their useful lives. The system is expected to become operational in New Zealand's domestic airspace in 2020 and in oceanic airspace in 2021. Airways and Leidos will continue to support and enhance the system over a fifteen year period, once it becomes operational. Airways New Zealand COO Pauline Lamb added, "By 2020 the new platform will allow airspace sectors to be operated from two new air traffic control centres in Auckland and Christchurch, in addition to 19 control towers nationwide". [more - original PR]