An new suite of worldwide satellite-based surveillance services for the air traffic management (ATM) sector and the aviation market at large is the aim of a Memorandum of Cooperation signed by Thales, Spire worldwide, and European Satellite Services Provider (ESSP). A dedicated constellation of more than 100 satellites will power these services by gathering Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) communications sent by airplanes and sending the information back to Earth in real time.
According to Philip Plantholt, general manager of Aviation at Spire, “the birth of a satellite constellation fully dedicated to serving the demanding needs of air traffic management, air domain awareness, and national security is a groundbreaking development for the aviation industry.” “With Thales and ESSP as important partners, we are positioned to provide the first real alternative to the aging systems that exist today and embark on a journey towards even more advanced space-based solutions for aviation in the years to come.”
According to Christian Rivierre, vice president of Thales’ Airspace Mobility Solutions, “this cutting-edge satellite-based surveillance service will accelerate the implementation of our new ‘Air Traffic Control as a service’ offering.” It will be a key player in determining how the skies will develop in the future, acting as a catalyst for trajectory-based operations and building the groundwork for an ATM system that is safer, greener, and more affordable. This new approach will also make use of the capabilities of satellite-based surveillance systems from Thales Alenia Space.
“Taking the best of three worlds: Space Systems, ATC Systems, and ATC Service Provision, is a game-changer for the aviation industry, providing the most valuable solution based on advanced new technologies,” stated Charlotte Neyret, chief executive officer of ESSP. Our service is being developed in response to customer demands and expectations in order to meet the challenges of digitizing ATC, enable more environmentally friendly and sustainable air transport, and meet new service levels. To guarantee the best level of service to all aviation stakeholders, we will offer the complete spectrum of ESSP’s space-based CNS expertise for the implementation and operation of mission-critical services.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and aviation authorities have imposed strict requirements, such as frequency, latency, and coverage, for the new end-to-end system to be licensed for air traffic surveillance.
The satellites in the constellation are intended to be replaced every five years, guaranteeing that the system is equipped with the newest and most sophisticated technology. The implementation of an evolutionary roadmap ensures that the most recent developments are continuously provided to meet the operational needs of end users.
The firms will create and demonstrate a system that goes beyond ADS-B to geolocate the position of aircraft in real time, without relying on GNSS/GPS satellites, in parallel with the construction of the initial constellation. This innovative technology will offer a robust way to track airplanes that is immune to GNSS/GPS flaws, such as interference or outages.
