ESA Launches New
Programme For Air Traffic Management Via Satellite
(21 June 2007) Pilots and flight
controllers will benefit from exchanging data and communicating via satellite
and terrestrial systems in the future Single European Sky.
This
is the aim of a new programme set in motion this week by ESA Member
States.
(courtesy: ESA - P.Carril)
The Single European Sky was launched by the
European Commission (EC) in 2004, proposing a new approach to air traffic
management in Europe that would unlock viable growth in air transport. The EC
has set up a specific programme, Single European Sky Air traffic management
Research (SESAR), addressing administrative, operational and technical concepts
for communication, navigation and surveillance for air traffic safety. Within
this wide scope, satellites have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential
for safety-of-life communications.
Satellites have so far mainly
addressed non-safety-critical communications, such as passenger telephone calls
and internet connectivity. ESA, with the support of the European space
industry, Eurocontrol, air navigation service providers, and national space
agencies, is preparing to carry out all the necessary work for satellite
communications to be considered under the SESAR programme.
By 2020
global air travel is expected to double, resulting in increasing congestion on
the ground and in the air. This situation requires a new, independent
air-to-ground link for aircraft communications.
(courtesy: ESA - P.Carril)
Satellite answers the
challenge
Reducing delays, increasing safety and being more cost
effective are the three main points that the EC is targeting, and satellites
can be part of the solution. Satellites can not only deploy additional capacity
over vast areas rapidly but also tailor it to regional requirements. By
interacting seamlessly between continental, oceanic and polar routes,
satellites offer a unique opportunity for safety improvements and the provision
of additional services to crews.
Furthermore, oceanic routes are still
served by the High Frequency (HF) band which allows only the most basic forms
of communication between pilot and ground. Added to these problems, various
countries currently operate different systems, placing another burden on
aircraft systems.
A satellite system would provide a much more
homogenous solution and could act as a complement to a terrestrial network, or
as the primary system in some areas. When coupled with navigation systems like
Galileo, satellite communications can even contribute to optimising aircraft
trajectories.
(courtesy: ESA - P.Carril)
Iris: Linking the sky to the
Earth
Making this a reality will require a new programme within ESA
Telecommunications to offer support to European industry in developing the
necessary technologies. The programme is named Iris, after the Greek
mythological personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods,
responsible for linking the sky with the Earth.
The programme will
support in-orbit verification and certification of the pre-operational system,
technical support to deployment of the full system, and preliminary work
leading to an enhanced future role for satellites.
(source:
ESA)