Iceland, Aireon to Evaluate Satellite Aircraft Tracking for Polar Airspace

Icelandic airport. Photo: Isavia

[Via Satellite 06-25-2015] Aireon has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Icelandic Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), Isavia to explore the implementation of space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) surveillance over the Reykjavik Flight Information Region (FIR) and the Reykjavik Oceanic Control Area (OCA).

Isavia is responsible for Air Traffic Management (ATM) services in most of the upper airspace of the Sondrestrom-Greenland FIR as well as their domestic airspace in Iceland. With the implementation of space-based surveillance, all Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-equipped aircraft will be visible to Air Traffic Control (ATC), including over polar and oceanic airspace, where current surveillance is limited or does not exist.

“Aireon is already working with our colleagues at Nav Canada and U.K. NATS to introduce this capability for oceanic crossings in the North Atlantic. With the addition of Isavia, we will optimize flights for the 140 thousand flights that use our airspace every year,” said Asgeir Palsson, director of air navigation services at Isavia.

Isavia joins a growing list of ANSPs who are exploring the use of Aireon’s space-based ADS-B surveillance system, including South Africa’s Air Traffic and Navigation Services, the Agency for Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar, Airports Authority of India, Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Blue Med Functional Airspace Block, the U.S. FAA, Airways New Zealand and NAV Portugal.