ISO-Gruppe has finished installing its SKYcontrol Tower system at Penang International Airport (PIA) in Malaysia, which the company says is Asia’s first fully digital air traffic control system. The project will introduce electronic flight strips and state-of-the-art ground surveillance technologies to modernize air traffic management and enhance operational visibility.

The deployment is a significant development for an airport that has an important role in Malaysia’s air cargo industry. AviationHub said Penang International Airport is second only to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) in terms of cargo tonnage, handling about 100,000 tons of freight annually. In 2023, it exported RM365 billion.

14 month project to support digital transformation

The implementation of SKYcontrol Tower was completed in just 14 months. This timeline demonstrates the platform’s ability to be integrated into complex operational environments and to fulfilll the requirements of a major international airport for ISO-Gruppe.

'The acquisition is of great importance for our international development strategy,' commented Stephan Schaer, Project Manager and Authorized Signatory at ISO Software Systeme GmbH.

“The project duration of just 14 months demonstrates the maturity of our SKYcontrol platform and its ability to be integrated into complex systems. “The successful major project in Penang demonstrates our ATC expertise and is a vital launchpad for further growth in the fast expanding Asian aviation market,” he said.

ISO Group also highlighted the role of its sophisticated SKYcontrol Software Suite in the Malaysian aviation modernization program. The deployment is an important step toward modernizing and digitizing end-to-end air traffic control processes, the company said.

Electronic flight strips take the place of paper strips

At the heart of the new installation is the Electronic Flight Strip System (EFS), a digital interface to replace the traditional paper flight strips.

Air traffic controllers today work in a structured electronic environment where they have access to and can share flight information. The system should allow more precise monitoring of key operational data, including estimated arrival and departure times, flight paths and air traffic clearances.

The technology eliminates the need for traditional paper-based processes, allowing information to be more efficiently managed and coordinated across air traffic control operations.

Ground surveillance improves aircraft tracking

The second important part is SKYcontrol Ground Track, a ground and approach surveillance solution that replaced the approach radar display of Penang Airport.

The system provides the electronic flight strip platform with the ability to monitor landing aircraft on a second by second basis as well as automatically detect departures. It also gives details about how aircraft move on the ground, such as taxiing and parking.

This mix of capabilities gives controllers a fuller operational picture, to include aircraft movements during approach and on the ground.

The deployment marks a significant step forward for Penang International Airport in its path toward fully digital air traffic management. The Malaysian project is also a benchmark for the ISO-Gruppe to extend its SKYcontrol technology in the fast growing aviation market in Asia.