Telephonics with Mahindra to provide ATM solutions

In an interview with SP’s AirBuz, Joseph J. Battaglia, President and Chief Executive Officer of Telephonics, dwells at length on Telephonics broad product mix and the strong technical capability backing up these products and the JV with Mahindra for India

SP’s AirBuz (SP’s): What are the ATM solutions that you can offer to India?

Joseph Battaglia (Battaglia): We think about our ATM solutions in four separate categories: automation, monopulse secondary surveillance radar, integrated solutions and military applications.

Telephonics automation solution is sold under the AeroTrac trade name and has been continuously operated, adapted and upgraded in a number of sites over the years. AeroTrac controls in excess of 40 per cent of China’s controlled air space—if you have flown into, or over the Pearl River Delta you have been under the control of operators using our AeroTrac.

Our monopulse secondary surveillance radar has also been continuously improved and updated over the years and today we sell this system as a single or dual rack-mounted unit or as part of a complete monopulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR) installation including tower, antenna and pedestal, power and control room. Integrated ATM solutions that we provide include complete primary surveillance radar, secondary surveillance radar, automation, installation, and commissioning for a complete turnkey solution.

Lastly, our military systems have been adopted and are in service with the US and several international armed forces for decades— Telephonics’ systems provide landing guidance on the US and Italian Navy aircraft carriers, and tactical landing capabilities on certain European fighter aircraft. So we have a broad product mix with a very deep technical capability backing up these products so that we can adapt our state-of-the-art technologies to specific customer requirements.

SP’s: What are the USPs of your ATM solutions?

Battaglia: Telephonics is widely known for high-performance cost-effective and flexible solutions across all of our product lines. This is especially true in our ATM product mix. AeroTrac is so popular with our customers in China, Korea and Croatia because we take the time to work with the operators and make the necessary modifications in symbology, language and other features to allow them to maximise their operational efficiency and safety in every region we are present.

The number of “aircraft movements” across Asia has risen dramatically in recent years and our AeroTrac solutions have grown steadily with them. One of the best endorsements we can have is a customer who wants us to upgrade or replace one of our systems that they have been operating for several years. And that is exactly what is happening right now in China—they are coming back to Telephonics more and more for extensions to their current AeroTrac capability. We will be their preferred partner as they continue to expand their capabilities over the next several years

So flexibility is one key unique selling point for us. Technology is another— Telephonics ATM technologies are recognised as the best available in several important areas—for example, our monopulse secondary surveillance radar is widely known as the longest range and most accurate system available, taking maximum advantage of legacy modes and codes while incorporating the ADS-B features.

And our automation system is well known for its ability to integrate flight information from an array of surveillance systems, both traditional primary and secondary radar systems as well as the newer ADS-B and MLAT systems, to reduce controller workload and greatly enhance safety.

Again you see the theme of focus on the customer and the operator—the better we are able to help them safely and efficiently do their jobs, the better our systems are viewed in the market. Our many repeat customers attest to this fact. We never enter a particular market and say, “Here is my product, I am sure you can change your operations to make it work for you.” We rather ask, “Here are some capabilities—how can we solve your challenges better than anyone else?”

SP’s: What is the potential that you see in India?

Battaglia: With arrivals and departures continuing to rise at a very healthy rate and projected to continue to do so in the future, I know that demand for Telephonics intelligent ATM solutions will grow here in India as it is elsewhere around the world.

We see our automation systems as uniquely adaptable to the Indian environment and expandable to meet the continued rapid expansion of flight services throughout the country. From the smallest airport to the largest ATC, we have a solution that will efficiently and safely enhance operations. Even at the larger airports and centres, there is a place for AeroTrac, as a backup system, to provide assurance to the IAA that the ATC blackouts experienced in the not so distant past will not be repeated.

This is one of the big markets that we are going to address through our joint venture (JV) with Mahindra and Mahindra. We signed the final JV agreement on August 1 and we are now in the process of receiving final approvals and industrial licences. Mahindra Telephonics Integrated Systems is the name of the company and we will manufacture, deliver and maintain all of our products for the Indian market through this JV. We are very optimistic about the future of this JV and how we will be able to deliver outstanding Telephonics technology with support and service in India.