The Challenge
Wagner Corporation’s Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport is the first greenfield airport developed in Australia in nearly 50 years. The new Toowoomba airport connects domestic and international, passengers, and cargo to South West Queensland’s mining and agricultural hub.
The owner-developer of the site, Wagner Corporation, needed an experienced radio communications specialist to provide a turn-key two-way radio solution for the airport and associated business park.
As Wagner Corporation were the first private developers in Australia to undertake an airport of this size and scale, they needed to implement a radio system that could meet the critical requirements for domestic and international flights.
The radio system would need to be flexible enough to respond to future developments of the airport and surrounding business park too.
Comtel’s Solution
With Comtel’s experience in complex aviation radio infrastructure and local presence, Comtel recommended implementing a closed-group digital radio communications system consisting of a main and a standby system, which would guarantee 100% reliability.
The infrastructure would need to comprise of a digital base station, handsets, headsets, mobile equipment radios and local repeaters across the airport and business park, as well as an integration of an aviation base station for plane arrivals and departures.
Comtel’s closed two-way radio system would provide greater workplace efficiency by integrating a large number of operational areas;
- Airport security
- Baggage handling and tracking
- Customs inspection
- Air traffic control
- Emergency response
- Shuttle services
- Check-in and boarding procedures
- Maintenance and infrastructure services
- Customer support
- Car park and fleet management
Wagner Corporation's Business Results
Wagners chose Comtel due to the company’s many years of experience in providing high-end airport traffic control radio systems. Combined with Comtel’s local presence a highly customised and quality two-way digital radio system was delivered.
Due to the high-noise areas, Comtel understood the importance of supporting the two-way radio system with quality equipment for rapid, loud and clear communications in all environments.
The focus on quality equipment has delivered exceptional reliability, and security and reduced lifecycle costs through greater durability in handsets and other equipment.
Key benefits of the Comtel two-way digital radio system include:
- Equipment with noise-reduction technology for air traffic and surrounding equipment to optimise ground staff voice clarity.
- Multiple communication paths to provide direct connection and optimise communications between different operational areas such as air traffic controllers, shuttle operations and flight crews.
- Fixed radio communications for mobile equipment that also provides location tracking.
- Ongoing support for increasing domestic and international services.
Comtel continues to service, train and assist the Airport through its ongoing expansion.
Implementation Timeline
With Comtel’s experience in complex aviation radio infrastructure, Wagners Corporation worked with Comtel teams on the ground throughout the construction, commissioning and operational phases.
Working on a tight schedule, Comtel completed project planning, execution and acceptance testing on time and to budget.
Being based locally meant Comtel was highly involved in each stage of the system commissioning.
Comtel undertook a stagged implementation program starting with local on-site communications for the construction phase. During this period Comtel demonstrated to Wagner Corporation the significant level of audio quality required in high-noise areas. Comtel also mapped a detailed digital security footprint to ensure the system could block any potential interference.
Once the system specification was finalised Comtel worked in partnership with Wagners to:
- Facilitate the Australian Communications and Media Authority Application for UHF and VHF radio frequencies. This needed careful consideration given the proximity to an existing airport and Royal Australian Air Force base.
- Infrastructure installation was staged alongside the construction program.
- Detailed testing and scenario planning were undertaken to ensure all operational areas and emergency response were covered.
- Continuous improvement reviews were undertaken during the opening phase.
Comtel was committed to delivering seamless communication throughout the project’s development. Comtel engineers were on site to support Brisbane West Wellcamp Airport staff during all major milestones such as the first domestic flight and international cargo delivery.
