New navigation systems to be installed at Scottish airports
May 16, 2025
A contract has been signed that will see new navigation technology installed at eight remote airports across Scotland, aiming to enhance flight safety and reliability in some of the UK’s most weather-exposed and isolated regions.
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) has awarded a multi-year agreement to Systems Interface, which will oversee the installation of Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) at key sites including Benbecula, Campbeltown, Dundee, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh.
The systems will be introduced in two phases. Four will be commissioned in 2025, with the remaining four to follow the next year. Systems Interface will manage the complete implementation process, from installation through to securing regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
David Chandler, Sales and Business Development Director at Systems Interface, said: “These systems will be deployed at some of the most challenging airport locations in Europe. Through previous deliveries to HIAL, the Systems Interface project delivery team fully understand the complexities of the programme and are committed to achieving the agreed in-service delivery targets on schedule.”
DME technology works by using radio signals to calculate the direct line-of-sight distance between an aircraft and a ground station. The aircraft sends a signal, which is then returned by the ground-based unit. The delay between the transmission and the response is used by the aircraft to determine how far away it is from the station.
