Story ID: 351
Controp Develops Airfield Safety Systems
By: David Donald
Caption: Controp from Israel has partnered with Pharovision to develop and test an electro-optic wildlife tracking system to enhance airfield safety.
Word Count: 282

Israeli surveillance specialist Controp Precision Technologies (Stand Q46) is best known as a supplier of advanced electro-optic and infrared systems for a variety of defense and homeland security purposes. Now the company has joined forces with wildlife management specialist Pharovision to develop and market a new family of aviation safety systems that can reduce the threat of birdstrikes and FOD (foreign object damage).

Controp’s Interceptor system provides automatic detection and tracking of a range of potential wildlife threats, such as individual birds, flocks and other animals, be they in flight, on the runway or near to it.

The system integrates a thermal imaging camera, daylight camera and laser rangefinder, with a continuous-zoom infrared function and full-color live video combining to provide accurate day and night tracking over a wide area. The system can automatically generate alerts if wildlife threatens air operations.

Interceptor was evaluated by the U.S. FAA at New York’s La Guardia airport, with the results showing that the system could detect and track small birds flying low or high, and at distances of up to three miles (five kilometers). The system’s performance was better than that using traditional radars and human observation. FAA trials are continuing at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington state.

A similar system known as Sentinel has also been developed by the company to provide continuous scanning of runways and taxiways to spot potential FOD debris. The system exceeds all requirements of the FAA Advisory Circular regarding such systems.

Controp’s systems can also detect drones, which pose a threat to safe commercial operations and to the security of military airfields.