Airports are some of the most complex environments in the world, thousands of passengers, constant aircraft movements, and no tolerance for communication failure. In critical situations such as system faults, security incidents, or operational emergencies, maintaining clear and reliable communication isn’t just operationally important… it’s life-saving.
Most airports rely on their Voice Communication and Control Systems (VCCS) for everyday operations. However, regulatory frameworks and operational best practices require a secondary layer of protection: an Emergency Voice Communication System (EVCS).
Why EVCS Exists: A Regulatory and Operational Necessity
For air traffic control and aerodrome operations in the UK, EVCS is governed by aviation regulators rather than building fire standards. The key references are:
- CAP 670: Air Traffic Services Safety Requirements – establishes the requirements for safe provision of air traffic services, including contingency and backup arrangements for communication systems.
- CAP 493: Manual of Air Traffic Services (MATS) Part 1 – provides procedures for air traffic services, including emergency communication protocols to ensure operations can continue safely under degraded or fault conditions.
In short, EVCS is a safety-critical, independent communication network designed to remain operational when the primary VCCS fails. It ensures emergency instructions reach the right people, ATC, fire wardens, ground operations, even during rare but critical system outages.
What Makes EVCS Different
While the VCCS is optimised for day-to-day operational efficiency, EVCS is built purely for resilience. It has independent power, dedicated cabling, isolated control paths, and fail-safe design. Typical VCCS failure scenarios include:
- Hardware or software faults in core switching or servers.
- Loss of network connectivity between terminals, towers, or remote ATC sites.
- Electrical disruption affecting non-protected circuits.
- Planned maintenance or system upgrades temporarily taking the main network offline
In these events, the Emergency Voice Communication System continues to provide a fully operational, independent communication channel, allowing emergency teams, ATC personnel, and airside operations to coordinate safely. Modern EVCS implementations are often aligned with ED-137, the EuroCAE standard for digital voice interoperability in air traffic management. This ensures seamless integration with VoIP radios, telephones, and recording systems, maintaining continuity even in complex airport infrastructures. With a 30-minute autonomous operating window, EVCS provides airports with a critical buffer, enough time to coordinate air and ground operations, evacuations, manage ground responses, and maintain all operational safety during a primary system failure.
More Than Compliance… It’s Resilience
Regulatory compliance with CAP 493 and CAP 670 is mandatory, but the real benefit of an Emergency Voice Communication System is operational resilience. When the unexpected occurs, airports need a tested, independent means of communication that works under pressure, allowing structured decision-making and effective coordination when every second counts. EVCS ensures that critical instructions reach the right people, operations remain coordinated, and safety is preserved, even if the main VCCS is offline.
Copperchase: Proven Communication Resilience for Aviation
At Copperchase, we design and deliver Emergency Handset Systems (EHS) and EVCS solutions tailored for aviation. Our systems are:
- Regulator-aligned: fully compliant with CAP 493 and CAP 670 guidance for ATC contingency communications.
- ED-137 compatible: ensures seamless integration across digital voice networks.
- Resilient and scalable: independent power, dedicated cabling, and fail-safe operation for long-term reliability.
- Expertly supported: we partner with airports and ATC units to implement robust systems that grow with operational needs.
From regional airports to international hubs, Copperchase EVCS ensures communication lines remain open when the primary system fails, protecting operations, staff, and passengers alike.
Communication You Can Rely On When It Matters Most
Every airport needs an Emergency Voice Communication System, not as a luxury, but as a mandatory safety measure. Copperchase solutions give airports the confidence that communication redundancy is in place, regulators are satisfied, and operations remain resilient under all circumstances.
Copperchase EVCS – Built for the Moments that Matter Most
Contact our team today to ensure your airport is compliant, resilient, and fully prepared.
