MAY 8, 2008--Vancouver International Airport (YVR) will deploy new cameras developed by QinetiQ (Farnborough, UK; www.qinetiq.com) to enhance its Tarsier runway debris-detection system. The QinetiQ Tarsier system uses millimeter-wave radar as its primary sensor.
Tarsier has been used at YVR since January 2007. Four radars scan the airport's north and south parallel runways, locating objects that could be drawn into engines or damage aircraft systems. A display unit in Vancouver Airport's Operations Centre provides the Airport Authority operations team with an around-the-clock runway picture.
YVR's decision to purchase the camera enhancement to Tarsier will improve airport efficiency by allowing the remote visual verification of detected debris to ensure that airport assets are better deployed. The cameras will be cued automatically, allowing the operations team to get "eyes on" with debris as soon as the system alarms.
The high specification, fully automatic cameras will operate at night, as well as during the day, and will allow imaging anywhere on the runway. The cameras are due to be installed at Vancouver later this year.
