Oberteuringen, March 14, 2024 – IHSE, the leading manufacturer of high-end KVM solutions for the extension and switching of computer signals, announces that it has equipped a high-altitude Chinese airport with a fully redundant KVM solution for fail-safe air traffic control.

Over the past few years, IHSE KVM solutions have become an important and crucial element in air traffic control systems in major airports around the world. IHSE systems enable controllers in the visual control room to interact with all tower system equipment located in ground-level equipment room. Air traffic controllers can interact with all essential systems from their personal workstations, switch between them and react instantly to all eventualities. 

For these security-critical applications, IHSE KVM systems offer increased protection against cyber attacks and a comprehensive redundancy concept for fail-safe 24/7 operation. IHSE KVM systems are deployed by several government aviation authorities and in many major global airports, including Frankfurt, Paris and King Abd al-Aziz Airport in Saudi Arabia.

Air traffic management at an altitude of 3,500 m

An IHSE system was recently installed in China at one of the highest airports in the world at an altitude of over 3,500 meters. The extraordinary location presented the system planners with special challenges and posed complex requirements on equipment and systems that are not generally encountered in lower-level airports. The combination of low air pressure, difficult terrain and geomorphological features, high winds, low cloud and extreme diurnal temperature differences calls for a particularly robust and resilient system. These are in addition to the normal requirements for the highest levels of security and reliability that are essential in air traffic management systems.

The fully redundant KVM system deployed here comprises two Draco tera flex KVM matrix switches with automatic switchover to a hot standby unit in the unlikely event of a failure of the primary switch. For further protection, the installation includes redundant power supplies and redundant fiber optic connections.

The IHSE solution creates optimum working conditions for air traffic controllers, who can switch all information sources to the screens directly from their multi-monitor workstations and immediately access all tower systems to ensure safe flight operations.