South Africa’s air traffic management (ATM) agency, Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS), has signed an agreement with US-domiciled global space-based air traffic surveillance system company Aireon. Under the agreement, ATNS and Aireon will together introduce automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

The deal, designated a regional commercialisation agreement, will set up a framework for the use of ADS-B data in the SADC area. ATNS will work with the other air navigation service providers (ANSPs) in the region to exploit the data to allow the creation of a regional flow air traffic control system. Such a system will bring both great cost savings and operational benefits to both the ANSPs and the airlines.

The ADS-B data will be distributed across SADC by means of a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) network. ATNS is already the operator of the regional VSAT network. This will allow air surveillance capabilities to be set up in remote areas, where ground-based communications will be too expensive to establish.

“ATNS has always ensured that regional cooperation between ANSPs is promoted, enhanced and sustained,” highlights ATNS CEO Thabani Mthiyane. “We now have an opportunity to bring the benefits of this technology to our region to leap-frog the industry.”

“The signing of this commercialisation agreement marks another milestone toward delivering global air traffic surveillance through space-based ADS-B, while fortifying the strategic partnership between Aireon and ATNS,” affirms Aireon CEO Don Thoma. “For the first time, the entire region will have access to real-time air traffic surveillance data, which, in this region – given its vast land mass and oceanic airspace – will become a driving force for enhanced safety and operations.

“Africa has some of the most remote regions in the world, making this technology immensely valuable for those with limited infrastructure,” Mthiyane points out. “We will now give them the option to have total air traffic surveillance without the need to build anything on the ground. This might be a game-changer for the region.”

The Aireon system will employ Iridium’s NEXT satellite constellation, which will be composed of ten satellites. The first NEXT satellite is due to be launched during this northern summer and the constellation should be complete by the end of next year. The satellites will be launched using Falcon 9 rockets from Vandenberg Air Force Base in the US State of California. Aireon’s service will become operational in 2018.

Aireon is a joint venture, formed by Iridium, Nav Canada, the Irish Aviation Authority, ENAV and Naviair, with the support of the Harris Corporation. Nav Canada is the not-for-profit private-sector company that operates Canada’s civilian air traffic management system. ENAV is Italy’s State-owned ATM company; Naviair is its Danish counterpart. Aireon will be able to provide real-time surveillance for aircraft equipped with ADS-B across the world, including polar, oceanic and other remote areas.

ATNS is a State-owned company set up in 1993. It provides ATM and related services on behalf of South Africa and its area of responsibility covers some 10% of global airspace. It also serves as the network provider for VSAT services in Africa.