The National Fire Agency said on the 6th that it finished the "Firefighting aviation operations management system advancement project" after three years.
The core of the project was a complete overhaul of the aging system from 2016 and the integration of dispersed control systems into one.
Breaking away from relying only on dedicated terminals, the system now links radar and ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast) information from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, allowing uninterrupted tracking of helicopter locations even in rugged terrain.
It also applied technology that connects radio networks using different frequencies, enabling integrated operation of the public safety LTE network (PS-LTE) and aviation VHF communications, which it said has dramatically reduced communication blind spots.
The National Fire Agency assessed that, through this project, it has laid the foundation for an "aviation safety control tower" that allows integrated control and a one-glance view of the locations of helicopters operated not only by firefighting units but also by the Korea Coast Guard, the police, the Korea Forest Service, and doctor helicopters, along with airspace and weather information.
Kim Seung-ryong, acting commissioner of the National Fire Agency, said, "Based on the advanced control system, we will streamline the cross-government helicopter dispatch system and make every effort to ensure aviation safety so that we can protect the lives of the public under any adverse conditions."