First ADS-B Data Yields Unexpected Results

The first ten Iridium NEXT satellites---each carrying Aireon ADS-B payloads---have been up in orbit for just about two months now. So what's been going on with the beginning of the system that is supposed to provide worldwide aircraft surveillance by 2020?

Courtesy of Aireon

At the beginning of the month, Aireon formally received control of the first ADS-B payload on one of the satellites from Iridium Communications. "When we first turned on the payloads after they reached orbit, we received an unexpected surprise -- aircraft were immediately being seen in real-time," said Aireon CEO, Don Thoma. "We've already seen commercial aircraft, general aviation aircraft and helicopters, in oceanic and remote airspace that have never before had real-time surveillance. The real fun for us now begins as we take control and push the performance to see just what space-based ADS-B can do."

Validation and testing of ADS-B data, done by electronic systems company Thales Group, is currently underway. Testing includes assessment of technical performance, defining requirements associated with utilization of the data safely and reliably, and determining the impact the service will have on maintenance and operational processes.Part of the goal is to make sure data is being successfully integrated into Thales' TopSky-ATC automation platform---the product that will eventually deliver Aireon's ADS-B data to end-users.

Global ADS-B is scheduled to go live in 2018. With seven more satellite launches due to launchin the next 12-15 months to complete the 66 satellite constellation and testing already underway, so far, it's right on target.

Learn more at Aireon.