CONTROP’s Proven EO/IR Detection Technology Applied to Aviation Safety

CONTROP to cooperate with Pharovision to market its automatic Bird & Wildlife Detection and Tracking System and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Detection System to Commercial, Civilian and Military Airports

INTERCEPTOR system has been evaluated by the FAA at New York’s La Guardia Airport; SENTINEL system exceeds all requirements of the FAA Advisory Circular for FOD Detection Systems

CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd., a world leader in Electro Optics and Infrared (EO/IR) technology for surveillance, defense and homeland security solutions, announces that it has entered the field of aviation safety. The threats of bird strikes and Foreign Object Debris (FOD) are continual threats that endanger commercial, civilian and military aircraft safety. Authorities worldwide have been hunting for truly effective solutions to these potentially deadly and often costly problems.

Developed by the EO/IR experts at CONTROP and their partners at Pharovision, the world experts in wildlife management solutions for aviation, the INTERCEPTOR automatic detection and tracking system will help prevent collisions between aircraft and individual birds or flocks of birds or other wildlife, be they in the sky, on the ground, or near the runway.  The INTERCEPTOR provides automated scanning and real-time warnings without the need for user interaction.
After having been evaluated by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at New York’s La Guardia Airport, the INTERCEPTOR is currently deployed by the FAA at Whidbey Island, Washington, USA for further evaluation.

The SENTINEL FOD detection system provides continuous scanning of runway, taxiway and other tarmac surfaces to detect the presence of FOD.  The integrated and comprehensive system is capable of simultaneously scanning for debris on all tarmac surfaces with the vicinity and between aircraft movements. The system is capable of automatically scanning for other types of targets as well.  

The SENTINEL system has been proven in many of the most challenging airfield environments and exceeds all requirements of the FAA Advisory Circular for FOD Detection Systems. “We’re delighted to be partnering with Pharovision on a solution to this widespread problem,” says Johnny Carni, CONTROP’s VP for Marketing & Sales. “In tests at LGA, our system has shown that it outperforms both human observation and traditional radars, being able to pick up and identify small and very low or very high flying objects such as birds – with accurate detection of single birds at distances of up to 5 kilometers (3 miles).” 

Adapted from CONTROP’s globally deployed and proven automatic intruder detection systems, the INTERCEPTOR and SENTINEL systems integrate a Thermal Imaging Camera with advanced Electro-Optics, a Day Camera and a Laser Range Finder. The combination of the continuous zoom lens of the IR camera and the full-color live video cameras,  allows the INTERCEPTOR and the SENTINEL to automatically perform wide area surveillance, providing highly accurate real-time day and night detection and tracking.

“There is breakthrough potential in CONTROP’s advanced solutions to differentiate between birds and other objects in and around commercial, civilian and military airports,” said Yuval Milo of Pharovision. “We have now expanded their role to the task of Foreign Object Debris (FOD) and Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) detection, making them truly multi-mission systems that will bring enormous savings to airport authorities.”

With positive results to tests so far, the spokesmen for the two companies expressed confidence that the INTERCEPTOR and the SENTINEL are perfect solutions for safer take-off and landing, and they are hopeful that these state-of-the-art systems will be deployed by many airports, airfields and airbases around the world.

About CONTROP
CONTROP Precision Technologies Ltd. specializes in the development and production of high performance Electro-Optical Infrared (EO/IR) and Precision Motion Control Systems. Established in 1988, CONTROP’s innovative products are used for Surveillance, Defense and Homeland Security applications.  Operationally proven in many of the world’s most challenging surveillance and defense programs, the company’s wide range of solutions include: automatic passive Intruder Detection Systems, Stabilized Observation Payloads, Thermal Imaging Cameras with Continuous Zoom and Image Enhancement capabilities, and more. CONTROP’s products are deployed in critical air, land and maritime installations for day/night airport perimeter surveillance, coastal and border surveillance, port and harbor security, sensitive site and ground troop protection; onboard UAVs, aerostats, balloons, helicopters, light aircraft (A/C), maritime patrol boats and ground vehicles.

About Pharovision
PHAROVISION, LLC specializes in the development and implementation of Bird and Wildlife Detection Systems.  With twenty years of worldwide experience in Wildlife Management and Bird Strike Avoidance at airports, airfields and airbases, Pharovision’s programs have shown proven success in the reduction of up to 90% of the risk from wildlife at airports and have made the company a world expert in the field. Collaborating with CONTROP enables both companies to provide “Game Changing” technology, which combine state-of-the-art EO\IR Automatic Detection Systems with comprehensive experience and knowledge in wildlife and bird detection.