Aireon Takes Full Control of Final ADS-B Payloads
MCLEAN, Va. – February 7, 2019 – Aireon announced today it has formally received control of the final six Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) payloads from Iridium Communications. Hosted on the Iridium® NEXT satellite constellation, Aireon’s space-based ADS-B system will deliver--for the first time in history--100 percent global, real-time surveillance of all ADS-B equipped aircraft. This is a major company milestone and is one of the final steps toward a fully-operational AireonSM system.
For the next two weeks, Aireon will conduct payload testing and validation, known as Initial Performance Verification (IPV). Upon completion of this stage, the Aireon team will transition to the Detailed Performance Verification (DPV) phase, which is focused on calibrating the payloads for optimal performance.
“Now that we have full control over every ADS-B payload in orbit, we are just weeks away from going live with the Aireon system,” said Dennis Diekelman Senior Director of Program Management, Aireon. “Since I began working with Aireon and started on this journey in 2011, the Aireon technology has consistently out-performed all expectations. In collaboration with Harris, our partner who built the ADS-B payloads, to Northrop Grumman (formerly Orbital ATK), who integrated the payloads with the Iridium NEXT satellites, to Iridium, who stands by our technology and provides an incredible system backbone, this is a big achievement for not just Aireon, but everyone involved in making the Aireon service a reality.”
The Aireon system is scheduled to go live in the first quarter of 2019, beginning with operational trials over the North Atlantic Ocean with the Canadian and United Kingdom Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), NAV CANADA and NATS. Additional deployment of the Aireon service will occur in NAV CANADA’s Edmonton airspace. Once fully operational, the Aireon system will provide air traffic controllers, airline operators and industry stakeholders with a complete, real-time, global picture of international air traffic. This capability will usher in an era of enhanced safety, as well as enable on-the-fly route adjustments, more direct flightpaths, improved fuel efficiency and increased predictability.
For more information about Aireon LLC, visit www.aireon.com
For more information about Iridium NEXT, visit www.IridiumNEXT.com
About Aireon LLC
Aireon has deployed a space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon is harnessing next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that are currently ground-based and, for the first time ever, extend their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Real-time ADS-B surveillance now covers oceanic, polar and remote regions, as well as augment existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Enav, NATS and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon provides a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system to all aviation stakeholders.
For more information, please visit www.aireon.com