aircraft tracking

Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia have partnered to trial a new tracking technology to enhance aircraft monitoring over remote oceanic areas.

The initiative comes in the wake of the disappearance of Beijing bound Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, which became one of the world’s biggest aviation mysteries last year.

The new system will track aircraft over remote oceanic areas every 15 minutes, rather than the previous rate of 30-40 minutes.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said: "This can also now increase to real-time monitoring should an abnormal situation arise."

"The new system will track aircraft over remote oceanic areas every 15 minutes, rather than the previous rate of 30-40 minutes."

The system will use existing technology used by the majority of long-haul passenger aircraft, and will establish reporting intervals using satellite-based automatic dependant surveillance-contract (ADS-C) positioning technology.

It will also ensure that air traffic control responds rapidly in case of an unexpected aircraft deviation from its flight path.

Mr Truss said: "This new approach enables immediate improvements to monitoring long haul flights, and will give the public greater confidence in aviation, without requiring any additional technology investment by airlines."

Australian government-owned Airservices has worked with Qantas, Virgin Australia and Inmarsat to develop operational concepts and trial the technology with selected aircraft.

Airservices CEO Margaret Staib said: "Airservices also recognises the work being done by ICAO (the International Civil Aviation Organization) and other international bodies to improve aircraft tracking globally, and this trial aligns with the recommendations arising from the ICAO High Level Safety Conference earlier this month."

The trial will start at the air traffic services centre in Brisbane, and will be extended to Melbourne, and then to Indonesia and Malaysia.

Image: The new system will track aircraft over remote oceanic areas every 15 minutes. Photo: courtesy Airservices Australia.