Asia-Pacific trials improved tracking systems

by CHIEF CORRESPONDENT, TOM BALLANTYNE  

April 1st 2015

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Initiatives to eliminate gaps in aviation’s global tracking system are gathering pace as regulators, equipment providers and airlines develop solutions to ensure aircraft are pinpointed at more frequent intervals as they travel the skies. Read More »

Global communications and aviation electronic solutions provider, Rockwell Collins, unveiled its new global flight tracking solution for the world’s airlines last month, one of several companies offering airlines improved tracking systems that should ensure the unexplained disappearance of Malaysia Airlines MH370 is not repeated.

Earlier in March, Australia’s deputy prime minister, Warren Truss, announced Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia had launched a trial that would allow air traffic controllers to more closely track aircraft flying across remote oceans. The new system has adapted technology already used by most long-haul jets and would greatly narrow search areas if aircraft are involved in accidents.

“This new approach enables immediate improvement in monitoring long-haul flights and will give the public greater confidence in aviation, without requiring any additional investment by airlines,” he said.

Rockwell Collins senior vice president information management services, Jeff Standerski: no single source of data is sufficient to track aircraft globally

Truss’s statement coincided with the unveiling of a partnership been global mobile satellite communications and safety services provider, Inmarsat, Airservices Australia (AA), Qantas Airways and Virgin Australia to trial improved flight tracking on commercial airline flights to and from Australia.

They will develop the operational concept for the trial using Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Contract (ADS-C) satellite technology in Australia’s oceanic regions. ADS-C provides air traffic controllers with a constantly updated surveillance picture of their airspace, designed to allow safe and efficient oceanic operations. Communications giant, SITA, also is marketing new products to improve aircraft tracking.

The advances follow an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) resolution to adopt a 15-minute tracking standard for commercial aircraft, rather than the previous norm of 30 to 40 minutes. The resolution is expected to be ratified in November, with the industry being given twelve months to comply, by November 2016.

The Rockwell Collins ARINC MultiLink flight tracking service is a significant improvement on previous systems. It brings together multiple data sources to reliably report the location of an aircraft anywhere in the world. The sources include ADS-C, high-frequency data link (HFDL) performance data, ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast), and U.S. Aircraft Situation Display to Industry (ASDI) radar data, EUROCONTROL position information and Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) position reports.

The company said combining multiple sources meant an aircraft’s position can be reported more frequently. The service can notify airlines when an aircraft unexpectedly stops reporting positional data or has deviated from its expected path.

“In today’s global aviation environment, no single source of data is sufficient to track aircraft globally,” said Jeff Standerski, senior vice president, information management services for Rockwell Collins. “By merging multiple data sources, many of which airlines receive, we can automatically select the right combination of data feeds for airlines to pinpoint an aircraft’s location anywhere in the world, in the most economical way.”

Airlines support improved tracking, but are wary about regulations that may force them to install costly cockpit equipment. Many airlines already have sophisticated communications systems installed on their jet fleets, but they are not always utilised because ground transmission infrastructure is not available to receive the airborne information.

Statistics reveal that 11,000 commercial passenger aircraft are fitted with an Inmarsat satellite connection, which represented more than 90% of the world’s long-haul commercial fleet. The Airservices Australia trial is valuable because it’s coverage of long-haul flights involves roughly 11% of the world’s surface, including vast tracts of the Indian Ocean where MH370 is believed to be.

Inmarsat chief executive, Rupert Pearce, said the trial is an important step towards improving international airline safety. “We are very pleased to be working with Airservices Australia and our industry partners to implement this enhanced flight tracking service. We applaud ICAO’s decision to introduce a new tracking standard,” Pearce said.