[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-04-10] Astrium Services has won a study contract to assess the provision of satellite services for accurately tracking aircraft over remote locations, particularly over the oceans, the company announced Nov. 2.
    Astrium Services will undertake the Satellite Oceanic Position Tracking Improvement and Monitoring Initiative (SAT-OPTIMI) to propose innovative satellite solutions for improving aircraft safety and optimizing coordination between both air transit services and search and rescue services in remote or oceanic areas. The five-month study was awarded by the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking, which is tasked with developing a modernized ATM system.
    “The SAT-OPTIMI contract award is a decisive step towards promoting the use of satellite-based services in improving the monitoring of aircraft over oceanic and remote areas,” Willy Guilleux, senior business development manager, Astrium Services, told Satellite TODAY Insider. “The SAT-OPTIMI study will complement the on-going OPTIMI study initiated by the SESAR [Joint Undertaking] in February this year. While the OPTIMI study is looking at defining the conditions of deployment of safety services and procedures for the tracking of aircraft over oceanic or remote areas, the SESAR [Joint Undertaking] found necessary to have an expert overview of the current and future aeronautical satellite services able to support such innovative end-to-end aircraft monitoring services from a technical and economic perspective,” he said.
    The SESAR Joint Undertaking was set up with the intention to provide recommendations for implementation of such services by 2011. The SAT-OPTIMI study will review the requirements defined by the OPTIMI study and propose aeronautical satellite services that will support the rapid deployment of these safety services, including a roadmap on future aeronautical satellite services.
    Guilleux expects satellite technologies to play more of a role in air traffic control in the future. “While the monitoring of air traffic is mostly land-based as per today, the SESAR [Joint Undertaking] in Europe, and also the NextGen (NextGeneration Air Transportation) Program in the United States, are both looking at complementing this terrestrial infrastructure by satellite solutions in the near- to mid-term. As a matter of fact, the increase in air traffic will need always-on monitoring services with comprehensive dual infrastructures able to support such services,” he said.

Related Stories-

Astrium, Air Liquide Form Joint Venture to Develop Ariane 5 ME Cryogenic Tank   Satellite Today   October 29, 2010
[Satellite TODAY 10-29-10] Astrium and space cryogenics specialist Air Liquide established a new joint venture to develop and produce cryogenic tanks for Arianespace s Ariane 5 Midlife Evolution (ME) upper-stage engine, the companies announced…

Astrium Increases ND Satcom Investment; Expands Satellite Partnership   Satellite Today   October 25, 2010
[Satellite TODAY 10-25-10] Astrium Services intend to purchase a 75.1 percent stake in SES-owned German OEM and satellite ground systems integrator ND SatCom, Astrium announced Oct. 22. With the new stake agreement, SES Astra and Astrium said…

Astrium Acquires German Space Sensor, Optical Systems Specialist   Satellite Today   October 5, 2010
[Satellite TODAY 10-05-10] Astrium has acquired German space sensors and optical systems specialist Jena-Optronik, Astrium announced Oct. 4. Jena-Optronik develops attitude sensors and space-based optics for a variety of different platforms…