Hey, VERN

The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded a 3-year contract to ARINC Inc. to continue providing the FAA with the VHF Extended Range Network (VERN) which supports air traffic control communications in the Gulf of Mexico.

The VERN network includes two air/ground stations located on Mexico's Yucatan peninsula and one at Key West, FL. In combination with the FAA's coastal radio facilities, VERN coverage enables the Houston Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) to communicate with aircraft over the Gulf of Mexico, according to the company.

The extended range and coverage of VERN ground stations is based on the unique radio wave signal propagation phenomena present in the Gulf, known as ducting, and ARINC's unique radio system design and makes use of the company's special extended range VHF propagation technique. The VERN system has been proven to provide extended-range VHF voice communications at distances of more than 400 nautical miles, at an altitude of 18,000 feet.

The company has operated the VERN air/ground stations and network infrastructure continuously since deploying them in 1998. The new contract was awarded April 1 and runs through March 31, 2010 if all options are exercised.

ARINC has also designed and operated other VHF radio systems using VHF extended-range propagation for more than 15 years. Its Air/Ground International VHF Voice service uses a similar system to provide Airline Operational Control communications and Air Traffic Control message relay to aircraft in the Gulf.

VERN directly addresses issues such as traffic growth in the eastern sector of the Houston Flight Information Region and recently reduced separation standards.

FMI: www.arinc.com, www.faa.gov