Skyguide has conducted extensive tests on two nights this month to verify the robustness and reliability of the power supply facilities at its Geneva operations centre. The last of these two tests was conducted in the night of 24 to 25 of January 2023 and proved an unqualified success.
Ensuring the safety and reliability of civil and military flight operations at all times is a key component of Skyguide’s mission and mandate. To do so, Skyguide requires continuous round-the-clock power supplies for all its safety-relevant systems – even in the event of an outage of the external power network. This is ensured at Skyguide through the company’s uninterruptible power supply (UPS) facility, which uses batteries and emergency generators to take over the provision of electrical power if the main external supply fails.
Tests successfully completed
As is the case with all safety-critical systems, Skyguide maintains two sets of its UPS facility. Each of these was separately tested during two nights in January. The tests involve simulating the loss of the usual external power supply. The last test in the night of 24 to 25 of January 2023 was conducted problem-free and was concluded in the early morning as planned.
“We will be taking our findings from these tests and using them to further enhance the integrity of our power supply systems and thus also of our operations,” says Urs Lauener, Chief Operating Officer & Member of the Executive Board at Skyguide. “I would like to offer my thanks to all our people who have been working for well over a year to ensure the smooth and successful conducting of these tests, and to our various partners for their assistance and support.”
Extensively planned
The tests have been preceded by extensive planning and preparation. Skyguide has taken a wide range of actions to ensure that the tests do not affect its ongoing air traffic management and monitoring operations at any time. These have included identifying and minimizing any possible risks and ensuring the thorough briefing and preparation of all the personnel involved. Some 60 Skyguide employees were on site during the test night.
