This enables Cyprus to take full benefit from CCAMS, which uses the limited amount of Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR) codes to their maximum by taking advantage of the vast volumes of flight data available to the NM. Indeed, the transponder codes used by almost two-thirds of European traffic are currently automatically assigned by NM’s CCAMS system.
CCAMS dynamically assigns SSR codes - originally allocated to Cyprus and all other CCAMS members in the Code Allocation List – by following operational needs to go beyond national boundaries. CCAMS thus increases the amount of available SSR codes, and reduces to a minimum the risk of SSR code shortages, while simultaneously ensuring safe operations.
This has a big benefit for Cyprus and other European states, even those who have not yet joined CCAMS, thanks to the smart logic behind CCAMS, which reduces airborne SSR code changes and ATC workload all over the continent.
The integration of Cyprus into CCAMS brings an extra added value, as Cyprus traffic interfaces with the Middle East Region of ICAO. All traffic entering the European Region requires a change of SSR code as per ORCAM, the Originating Region Code Assignment Method. CCAMS now ensures that this traffic will carry the most efficient SSR codes over Europe after entering Cyprus.