The Bermuda Airport Authority (BAA), through its Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), partnered with the FAA to replace and upgrade the emergency backup radios at the Bermuda Air Traffic Control Tower with new General Dynamics URC-300E transceivers.
The upgrade represents an important enhancement to Bermuda’s air traffic communications infrastructure and supports the continued delivery of safe, reliable, and resilient air traffic services at L.F. Wade International Airport.
The URC-300E transceivers will replace the existing emergency radios and provide Very High Frequency (VHF) communications capabilities for air traffic control operations. The system provides an important backup communications capability in the event of a catastrophic incident or loss of the Tower’s primary communications systems, helping to maintain essential air traffic control communications during an emergency.
As part of the implementation, FAA specialists provided on-island training to Bermuda’s Air Traffic Engineering Technicians and Air Traffic Controllers. The training was completed successfully and equipped local personnel with the knowledge and skills required to operate, maintain, and support the new radio equipment.
“Reliable communications are fundamental to the safe delivery of air traffic services. The installation of the new URC-300E transceivers strengthens our emergency communications capability and provides an important layer of resilience should our primary systems become unavailable. Equally important, the training provided by the FAA ensures our Air Traffic Engineering Technicians and Air Traffic Controllers have the knowledge and skills to operate and maintain this equipment effectively. We are grateful for the continued support and partnership of the FAA and the US Consulate General as we work to maintain the highest standards of safety and reliability across Bermuda’s airspace.” – Mark Bourne, Director of Air Navigation Services, Bermuda Airport Authority
The Bermuda Airport Authority values its continued partnership with the FAA and the U.S. Consulate General. This ongoing collaboration plays an important role in strengthening the reliability and resilience of Bermuda’s air traffic communications infrastructure and supporting the highest standards of aviation safety.
“Our ongoing partnership with the FAA and BAA underscores the shared security interests between the United States and Bermuda. We are proud to support this critical equipment upgrade and specialized training, ensuring essential communication capabilities are ready and available during a crisis,” said Shannon Sibayan, U.S. Consulate General Management Officer.
The successful completion of the project and associated training represents another step in BAA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Bermuda’s aviation infrastructure and develop local technical expertise.
