ADS

Air navigation service provider (ANSP) Airservices Australia has signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Aireon to explore using its space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) solution.

Considered to be the first complete global air traffic surveillance solution, the ADS-B solution will enable real-time air traffic surveillance worldwide, including full coverage over oceans, mountains, remote areas and polar regions.

The solution will be a part of the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation and is due to be operational by 2018.

Airservices Australia air traffic control executive general manager Greg Hood said: "We are interested in examining how space-based ADS-B could potentially be used in the future and will work with Aireon to determine the potential safety benefits of the technology and efficiency benefits it may offer for our customers, especially for oceanic services and in cross-boundary coordination with our neighbours.

"There is potential for space-based ADS-B to offer value not only to Airservices, but for all of our customer airlines, airports and search and rescue teams and we are keen to explore that in further detail."

The Aireon ADS-B solution is expected to lower ground infrastructure costs and improve airspace safety.

It will also provide smooth transition with neighbouring flight information regions (FIR).

"Airservices operates, maintains and controls over 11% of the world’s airspace, much of which is oceanic."

Aireon vice-president Cyriel Kronenburg said: "Airservices operates, maintains and controls over 11% of the world’s airspace, much of which is oceanic.

"Airservices has always been a leader in investing in best-in-class systems and an early adopter of technology to not only improve efficiency and reduce separation, but also increase safety.

"Airservices and Aireon will collaborate to examine the value of space-based ADS-B. Also, by gaining a better understanding of how Aireon’s system will improve operations, they will also be able to consider the savings that the service may provide."

Airservices Australia manages air traffic control, aviation rescue and air navigation services in more than 51.7mkm² of airspace.

The company operates more than 60% of Australia-based aircraft IFR flights equipped with ADS-B.

It will increase the number following Civil Aviation Safety Authority, Australia’s safety regulator’s mandate to equip ADS-B on all IFR aircraft flying in Australia’s airspace by 2017.

Image:Airservices explores space-based ADS-B technology. Photo courtsey of Airservices.