FREQUENTIS has successfully deployed a robust, high-capacity backup system for Naviair, ensuring seamless continuity in Danish air traffic control services. This major infrastructure milestone strengthens safety and reliability for both the area control centre and major airports.
In the fast-paced world of aviation, reliability is not just a requirement—it is the foundation upon which the entire industry stands. For those of you following the latest developments in modern air traffic management infrastructure, you know that system resilience is the ultimate goal for air navigation service providers (ANSPs). Denmark’s Naviair has recently taken a monumental step forward, ensuring that their skies remain safe, orderly, and efficient, regardless of potential technical disruptions.
By integrating a new, high-capacity backup air traffic management (ATM) system, Naviair is proving that proactive infrastructure investment is the key to managing the complexities of modern European airspace. This initiative, powered by industry-leading technology, guarantees that even when primary systems face maintenance or unexpected outages, the flow of traffic remains uninterrupted.
Strengthening National Airspace Safety
The primary challenge for any ANSP is maintaining the delicate balance between high traffic volume and safety-critical system availability. Naviair, responsible for Denmark’s airspace, faced the critical task of upgrading its fallback capabilities to meet modern demands. The project was not merely about « having a backup »; it was about creating a fully capable, high-capacity environment that mirrors the sophistication of the primary system.
This upgrade covers the Area Control Centre (ACC) as well as the approach and tower units at Copenhagen, Billund, and Roskilde airports. By ensuring that these vital hubs have a fully operational fallback, Naviair has effectively minimized the risks associated with system failures or mandatory updates. This level of preparation is essential for maintaining the confidence of pilots, airlines, and the millions of passengers who traverse Danish airspace annually.
The Role of the FREQUENTIS PRISMA Automation Solution
At the heart of this resilience lies the PRISMA automation solution, a specialized FREQUENTIS technological solutions for aviation platform. This system is designed to provide the stability and high-performance requirements that modern ATC environments demand.
The PRISMA framework is not just a static backup; it is an intelligent, dynamic tool. It integrates seamlessly with the existing operational environment, allowing controllers to manage traffic with the same level of precision they are accustomed to. For air traffic controllers, the transition to the backup system must be transparent—they need to see the same data, with the same latency and reliability, even when they are running on the « emergency » setup. PRISMA delivers exactly this, ensuring that the operational workflow remains smooth and consistent during any switchover.
Why Resilience Matters in Modern Aviation
Why is this investment so vital right now? We live in an era of unprecedented aviation growth, where managing flight paths requires constant updates to Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control (AIRAC) cycles. Every update brings new data, and every maintenance window presents a potential vulnerability.
By utilizing a high-capacity backup, Naviair ensures that it can perform these critical maintenance tasks and AIRAC updates without compromising traffic flow. This proactive maintenance strategy allows the team to be flexible and adaptive. When you look at the technical specifications, it becomes clear that this is about long-term stability. The system acts as a safety net, enabling Naviair to focus on growth and efficiency rather than worrying about the catastrophic implications of a technical glitch.
Collaborative Success in Technical Deployment
No project of this magnitude is completed in isolation. It requires the expertise of a global air traffic control innovation leader to understand the unique requirements of a national ANSP. The collaboration between Naviair and its partners highlights the importance of the agile delivery approach.
The project spanned several years, with intense validation phases between 2022 and 2024, culminating in final site acceptance in May 2025. This was not a « plug-and-play » installation; it was a meticulous process of testing, refining, and validating. Morten Fruensgaard, Chief Operating Officer at Naviair, emphasized that the new system meets the highest operational and technical standards, providing the confidence needed to maintain resilient services. It is this marriage of high-tech hardware and deeply collaborative project management that defines success in today’s ATM sector.
FREQUENTIS Systems Future-Proofing Naviair
The infrastructure installed in Denmark goes beyond simple redundancy. Built on the MosaiX framework, this open platform architecture ensures that Naviair is ready for the future. The ability to integrate new services and technologies is what separates modern systems from legacy ones.
This open approach means the system can grow alongside aviation technology. Whether it is incorporating new surveillance data, advanced weather reporting, or future communication protocols, the architecture is designed to adapt. By investing in this flexible and scalable technology, Naviair has secured its position as a forward-thinking provider. The inclusion of a dedicated Test and Validation System (TTC) and a Training Environment (TRG) at the Copenhagen ACC demonstrates that they are not just focused on the technology, but also on the professional development and preparedness of their controllers.
“Our new backup system meets the highest operational and technical standards,” says Morten Fruensgaard, Chief Operating Officer at Naviair. “PRISMA gives us the confidence that we can maintain resilient, safety-critical services at all times, and we appreciate the close collaboration with Frequentis throughout the project.”
“The transition to live operations marks a major milestone for both teams,” says Josef Kutschi, Managing Director at Frequentis Comsoft. “This project demonstrates how a modern and flexible high-capacity backup system can deliver lasting value. We are proud to support Naviair in strengthening the resilience of its ATM infrastructure and look forward to continuing our successful collaboration.”
Frequently Asked Questions about ATM Resilience
The new system provides a high-capacity, robust fallback environment for Naviair’s area control centres and major airports, ensuring that air traffic management services continue without interruption during system failures or scheduled maintenance. This significantly reduces operational risk and enhances overall aviation safety.
The PRISMA solution acts as a seamless extension of the primary ATM system, offering controllers the same high standards of data and functionality. By providing an identical operational experience, it allows controllers to manage traffic with full confidence, even when switching to the backup environment during critical updates or unforeseen incidents.
The MosaiX framework provides an open, flexible platform architecture that allows for future integration of new services and long-term system resilience. This ensures that Naviair’s infrastructure remains modern and adaptable, capable of evolving alongside new aviation technologies and changing airspace requirements for years to come.
Your Thoughts?
Naviair’s commitment to building a resilient airspace through this collaboration shows just how important technical upgrades are for the future of flight. It is truly impressive to see how modern engineering can effectively eliminate downtime in such a high-stakes environment.
What are your thoughts on the importance of redundancy in air traffic management? Do you think the shift toward open-platform architecture is the best path forward for ANSPs globally?
Let me know in the comments below! I look forward to hearing your insights.
