Sierra Wireless Device-to-Cloud IoT Solution Enables Unimar to Improve Flight Safety

Unimar’s obstruction lighting and custom control system uses Sierra Wireless AirLink RV50 gateway, SIM and AirVantage IoT Platform to alert aviation authorities to potential hazards along flight routes

Sierra Wireless, the provider of fully integrated device-to-cloud solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT), has announced that Unimar, a worldwide supplier of tower and obstruction lighting products, has selected Sierra Wireless’ device-to-cloud solution, including AirLink® RV50 industrial LTE gateways and SIMs, configured and managed over the air using the AirVantage® IoT Platform, to connect and manage critical lighting and control systems along flight paths.

Terry Zarnowski, Chief Technology Officer of Unimar said: “Sierra Wireless’ device-to-cloud solution allows us to provide our customers with a managed service to monitor, control and optimize their obstruction lighting. We’re able to collect insightful, actionable data from devices in the field and receive alerts in mission-critical situations, ensuring that flight path hazards are always properly marked and our customers are compliant with FAA protocols. As a result, we’re able to substantially reduce the time it takes to file a Notice To Airmen, to within seconds instead of minutes or hours, greatly reducing liability and risk to our customers.”

To prevent aircraft collisions, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that all towers over 200 feet be equipped with obstruction lighting and control systems and for the infrastructure owner to file a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to alert the FAA of the potential hazard when an obstruction light fails. Failing to repair a defective tower light immediately could place passengers and residents in danger. Unimar’s managed IoT solution collects data from controlled lighting devices on towers and takes action by logging the data, updating specified individuals and sending a NOTAM to the FAA to re-route air traffic in the case of a lighting failure.

Unimar chose Sierra Wireless’ device-to-cloud solution, including AirLink RV50 gateways, SIMs and AirVantage IoT Platform to connect its mission-critical obstruction lighting. The industry’s lowest power and most rugged LTE gateway, AirLink RV50 helps Unimar’s customers keep infrastructure costs low, while providing reliable, resilient connectivity. Using the AirVantage IoT Platform to manage their hardware and connectivity, Unimar can provide customers with mission-critical data, value-added monitoring options and an always-on customer service experience.

Marc Overton, SVP and general manager of IoT Services at Sierra Wireless said: “Working with a trusted IoT partner, Unimar was able to modernize their solution and incorporate value-added services for their customers. Our device-to-cloud IoT solution is scalable and can be deployed quickly, ensuring that Unimar can focus on helping its customers put safety first.”