ENAIRE – Transforming Spain’s ATC Console for the Digital Skies Era

Enaire
Air Traffic Control Controller Working Position iFocucs

Challenge

In 2020, CISCEA, responsible for controlling Brazilian airspace and ensuring safe, efficient flight operations, recognized the need to modernize its Air Traffic Control (ATC) Centers. Key challenges included:

  • Legacy consoles and screens limited situational awareness and operational efficiency.
  • Controllers lacked ergonomic and adaptable workstations, impacting comfort and focus.
  • Existing systems did not allow for advanced multiwindow/multilayout operations or seamless integration with KVM and recording capabilities.
  • The modernization needed to occur without interrupting critical air traffic services.

CISCEA sought a future-proof solution that would enhance safety, efficiency, and controller experience across multiple ATC units nationwide.

Solution

CISCEA, through the Brazilian Air Force and its Airspace Control System Implementation Committee, undertook a phased modernization program starting in 2023.

Key elements of the solution included:

  • Upgraded Controller Working Positions: ScioTeq MDP-843/2 KM MUX consoles featuring large 43” 4K2K monitors designed specifically for ATC were deployed.
  • Enhanced Functionality: Integrated multiwindow and multilayout displays, advanced KVM, and recording-at-the-glass capabilities.
  • Ergonomic Design: Adjustable screens to optimize operator comfort and viewing flexibility.
  • Phased Implementation: Replacement of consoles during off-peak hours to ensure uninterrupted air traffic operations.
  • Nationwide Rollout: Modernization initially covered 16 consoles at Rio de Janeiro APP-RJ and 122 consoles across other centers including Military Operations Centers 2, 3, 4, and the Northeast and Belo Horizonte Approach Centers.
Enaire
Air Traffic Control Controller Working Positions iFocucs

Results

  • The modernization delivered measurable operational and human-factor benefits:
  • Improved Situational Awareness: Expanded screen surface and multiwindow layouts reduce information overlap, supporting faster and safer decision-making.
  • Enhanced Operator Comfort: Adjustable workstations improve ergonomics, reducing fatigue and increasing focus.
  • Operational Continuity: Phased implementation allowed air traffic control to remain fully operational throughout the upgrade.
  • Efficiency Gains: Controllers reported optimized sector visualization and smoother coordination across the airspace.
  • Recognition and Morale: The modernization demonstrated the Brazilian Air Force’s commitment to valuing personnel, enhancing both morale and operational performance.
  • “Modernization is truly an important aspect of valuing our personnel,” noted Captain Rídil José Souza de Carvalho, Head of APP-RJ.

The program continues with further rollout planned, establishing a modern, standardized, and ergonomically optimized ATC environment across Brazil