The CRU995 Gateway connects conventional air traffic communication equipment to IP-based voice networks without replacing existing operational infrastructure. It provides a remote IP to 4-wire E&M interface supporting up to four simultaneous radio connections, covering transmitters, receivers, and transceivers, enabling analogue radio assets to function within a modern VoIP environment. That capability is increasingly relevant as airports and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) face the combined pressures of telecommunications change, mixed-generation infrastructure, and the requirement to maintain continuity in safety-critical voice communications.
In this article, we explore how the CRU995 Gateway enables ATC operators to upgrade their communication capabilities to VoIP.
Mixed Infrastructure In Operational ATC Environments
In air traffic communication environments, voice systems cannot always be modernised in the same way as non-operational enterprise networks. Radio interfaces, control positions, recording systems, and switching platforms are often introduced over long periods, leaving airports with a combination of legacy and newer equipment that must continue to operate as a single system. The technical requirement is therefore not simply to replace older components, but to preserve operational behaviour while changing the transport layer that supports them.
This is where gateway technology becomes operationally significant. Rather than forcing a full replacement of radio infrastructure, the CRU995 allows analogue 4-wire E&M equipment to be presented within an IP-based architecture. That makes it possible to retain your installed radios and associated field equipment while moving the surrounding network toward VoIP. For many air traffic control communications sites, this is the more practical route: it reduces disruption and supports a staged implementation strategy.
Interoperability Through Standardised Voice Protocols
A key aspect of that transition is interoperability. ATC voice communications depend on predictable signalling, defined interface behaviour, and compatibility between multiple system elements. The CRU995 addresses this by supporting ED-137, the standard used for Air Traffic Management (ATM) voice over IP. This allows legacy E&M-connected equipment to interface with newer ED-137 voice systems, while also allowing ED-137-capable devices to be incorporated into communication systems that still depend on conventional radio interfaces. The result is not merely network conversion, but usable compatibility between different generations of ATC voice technology.
This matters because many airports are not moving from one complete system to another in a single step. In practice, modernisation often takes place within a mixed environment, where some functions remain analogue while others move to IP. During that period, maintaining stable voice paths between radios, operator positions, and communication servers is essential. The CRU995 supports hybrid operation by allowing analogue and IP-based elements to run concurrently, without requiring separate external gateway layers to bridge between the two.
Transitional Operation, Managing Hybrid Environments
That hybrid capability reduces the engineering complexity required during transition. Where multiple standalone conversion devices are required, the number of failure points, interface dependencies, and support considerations increases. Conversely, a gateway that handles both analogue and IP interfacing within the communications architecture simplifies deployment and makes it easier to manage phased upgrades, particularly where infrastructure changes must be introduced alongside live service requirements and formal testing procedures.
The practical benefit is that your voice system upgrades can be aligned with your operational constraints, not compromised by them. For instance, a site may wish to replace their network transport first, then migrate switching or radio subsystems later. Equally, it may need to introduce new ED-137-compatible components while leaving existing analogue radios in place. In both cases, the CRU995 functions as an interface layer that allows unlike systems to operate together in a technically consistent manner.
Telecommunications Changes And Operational Impact In The UK
For UK airports, this requirement has become more immediate as telecom providers withdraw legacy analogue and TDM-based services. Infrastructure that once depended on conventional leased circuits can no longer assume continued support under the same service model. That creates a technical problem rather than simply a procurement one: communications systems must be adapted to operate over IP networks while preserving the performance, signalling behaviour, and resilience expected in ATC operations.
Under those conditions, full system replacement is often disproportionate to the problem being solved. If the core radio equipment remains operationally suitable, replacing it solely to accommodate a new transport environment introduces unnecessary cost, engineering effort, and additional validation requirements. A gateway approach avoids that by isolating the change to the interface and network layer, allowing the radio estate itself to remain in service. ATC voice systems are embedded within local procedures, maintenance arrangements, and safety cases; any change to infrastructure must therefore be manageable, testable, and consistent with continued service provision.
Voice Communication System Air Traffic Control Support From Copperchase
At Copperchase, we provide engineering-led solutions to help airports integrate their legacy infrastructure with modern standards. Contact our team to assess how gateway technologies such as the CRU995 can support a controlled, standards-compliant upgrade within your operational environment.
