Next target, to provide best trajectory prediction for Aircraft: Don Thoma, CEO, Aireon

“Within the first 30 days of deployment, the North Atlantic, NATS and NAV CANADA received 48 new safety alerts through flight level and route adherence monitoring with Aireon data. Furthermore, NATS and NAV CANADA Air Traffic Controllers now receive reports within an average 0.17 seconds, against a target of 2 seconds, which is a drastic improvement from the previous interval of every 10-18 minutes,” said Don Thoma. Read the Full Interview.

Don Thoma is the CEO of Aireon, that provides the first-ever global air traffic surveillance system using a space-based Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) network. Aireon has so far signed agreements with 12 Aviation Organisations of the world comprising 27 countries. Recently, Don Thoma signed an agreement with Airports Authority of India (AAI) for implementation of ‘space-based ADS-B’ in Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata’s oceanic airspaces. In an Exclusive Interview with Siddheshwar Shukla, Associate Editor, Devdiscourse, Thoma claims that besides ensuring the safest air-traffic ever and achieving business goals, the space-based ADS-B can help eliminate approximately 14.3 million metric tons of CO2 over ten years - the equivalent of more than 300,000 cars from U.S. roads each year. He also claimed that his team is working to provide the best trajectory prediction for aircraft by 2020. The Edited Excerpts:

Siddheshwar Shukla: How space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology improves oceanic and domestic air traffic surveillance? 

Don Thoma: Before Aireon, over 70 percent of the world had no access to real-time air traffic surveillance information. Remote regions, including oceans, polar regions, mountainous regions, jungles, and deserts had little to no real-time air traffic surveillance. This was not just a tremendous inefficiency but carried safety, financial and environmental consequences. Because of space-based ADS-B technology, Aireon’s surveillance service is able to bypass the limitations of ground-based systems and provide an operational, global, space-based air traffic surveillance solution to all aviation stakeholders. 

Shukla: What are the additional features of space-based ADS-B which provide it with an edge to other existing oceanic traffic surveillance systems? 

Thoma: Prior to the launch of Aireon, there was no real-time air traffic surveillance over oceans. Existing ocean monitoring relied on position reports that were from anywhere between 10-18 minutes each and as a consequence, procedural flight routes. Only with Aireon can there now, be real-time air traffic surveillance over the oceans, since Aireon bypasses the limitations of other systems.   

Shukla: What is the comparative cost of space-based ADS-B in terms of existing air surveillance?

Thoma: Aireon’s cost depends on the needs of each ANSP and each airspace. However, Aireon surveillance does reduce or eliminate the need for ground infrastructure in remote and inhospitable areas.  

Shukla: How, according to you, India will benefit from this technology? 

Thoma: India is the third-largest aviation market in the world—home to the densest airspace in the world—with the exponential growth expected to continue in the immediate future. With Aireon, AAI can plan for their additional capacity, while increasing safety and efficiency of flight. 

Space-based ADS-B will cost-effectively provide coverage for the six million square kilometers of airspace in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata oceanic regions. Implementation of space-based ADS-B will enable ATC to utilize enhanced safety tools and reduced separation of aircraft in this dense airspace, allowing for the efficient growth of capacity, while substantially reducing risk through the availability of real-time air traffic surveillance services. Over time, AAI expects that the use of space-based ADS-B will improve operators’ flexibility to fly user-preferred, better routes and offer optimal altitudes and speeds to maximize flight efficiency. This will allow for enhanced coordination and collaboration with neighboring countries and an improved handoff between the domestic and oceanic sectors and quicker response time to emergency and distress situations with search and rescue. 

Using real-time air traffic surveillance over the oceans, paired with AAI’s advanced communications capabilities, will allow AAI to safely reduce aircraft separation to 15 Nautical Miles (NM) longitudinal and lateral separation for Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) equipped aircraft. In situations where aircraft operate with Direct Controller-Pilot Communications (DCPC) over VHF, the standard separation minimum of five NM will remain applicable.   

Shukla: How has been the journey of Aireon with space-based ADS-B technology?  

Thoma: Aireon’s journey with space-based ADS-B has been a story of innovation and international collaboration. 

In 2011, Aireon identified the opportunity to solve one of the biggest problems in aviation – the inability to track and surveil aircraft anywhere in the world. With initial investors, the company began to explore payloads for the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation. In 2015, the International Telecommunication Union granted primary allocation of the 1090 MHz frequency band for the reception by satellite of ADS-B signals from aircraft. This was a huge accomplishment allowing for air traffic surveillance coverage of ADS-B equipped aircraft on 100 percent of the globe. 

With ANSP investors from around the globe, Aireon conducted eight launches of its payloads on Iridium NEXT Satellites between 2017 and January 2019. After receiving control of the final six ADS-B payloads from Iridium on February 7, 2019, Aireon completed payload testing, validation and calibration stages prior to launching the full system into operation to support current ANSP customers. Three months after the final payload launch, in April 2019, the Aireon system went live in the North Atlantic, the world’s busiest airspace.  

Aireon’s data has been recognized and validated by regulating entities around the globe. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the largest regulator in Europe, certified Aireon as a new air navigation service provider (ANSP) for its space-based ADS-B surveillance, the first-of-its-kind certification ever issued by the regulator. 

Shukla: What has been your experience with space-based ADS-B technology so far in the countries where it is being already implemented?  

Thoma: First, we want to make clear that Aireon provides space-based ADS-B. The ADS-B is an existing technology that has been commonplace for nearly a decade. However, it was not until Aireon’s revolutionary system that the industry was able to take advantage of ADS-B surveillance technology with the complete, global and real-time coverage offered by space-based ADS-B. It takes the traditional ground-based ADS-B receiver and places them on a low earth orbit satellite. These receivers are on the 66 Iridium NEXT satellites that orbit the earth every 100 minutes and provide global, pole-to-pole coverage.

To answer your question: take, for example, NATS and NAV CANADA—the first Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) to use the service—which shares the world’s busiest oceanic airspace-- the North Atlantic Ocean. 

In that airspace alone, the Aireon system is expected to reduce overall flight safety risks by approximately 76 percent, according to a joint analysis by NAV CANADA and NATS. Furthermore, it is anticipated that commercial aircraft operators/airlines will save up to $156 million per year, depending on fuel prices in the North Atlantic.  

Shukla: How space-based ADS-B helps in saving fuel?

Thoma: Because space-based ADS-B will provide improved visibility and control over previously un-surveilled airspace—especially across oceanic regions— airlines will be able to fly more direct routes at optimal speeds and level, saving fuel.        

Shukla: Thus by saving the fuel, Aireon, though unconsciously has become a corporate leader for Climate Action — SDG 13 (Sustainable Development Goal), one of 17 Global Goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015 for the year 2030. How do you feel on being part of one of the largest global movement of our times that is coming to you just as a byproduct of your business targets?

Thoma: We’re thrilled that the Aireon service can make a positive impact when it comes to global sustainability. Aviation generates approximately 2%-8% of the world’s emissions, and many airspaces, such as India, are expected to grow in capacity to meet increasing demands for air travel. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a United Nations specialized agency, has enacted the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) agreement for carbon-neutral growth from 2020.   

Aireon can help eliminate approximately 14.3 million metric tons of CO2 over ten years - the equivalent of more than 300,000 cars from U.S. roads each year.  

Shukla: Do you have data to substantiate your claims of safer air traffic movement/avoiding near-miss air crashes with space-based ADS-B technology of Aireon?

Thoma: The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Safety Oversight Group (SOG) for the North Atlantic, estimates the work done by Aireon, NAV CANADA and NATS will reduce the vertical collision risk in the North Atlantic by 76 percent with space-based ADS-B.

In the first 30 days of deployment in the North Atlantic, NATS and NAV CANADA were receiving more than 48 new safety alerts through flight level and route adherence monitoring with Aireon data. Additionally, now with real-time air traffic surveillance over the North Atlantic, the measured performance exceeds specifications of surveillance on update interval and latency. All reports arrived within the target 8-second update rate, with most at 3 to 4 seconds. The average time it took those position reports to reach Air Traffic Controllers was 0.17 seconds, against a target of 2 seconds. Again, prior to the deployment of Aireon, position reports were received by air traffic controllers once every 10-18 minutes. That’s an immediate safety benefit on its own.  

Shukla: Could you share some of the success stories of space-based ADS-B of Aireon on improved air surveillance?  

Thoma: Within the first 30 days of deployment in the North Atlantic, NATS and NAV CANADA received 48 new safety alerts through flight level and route adherence monitoring with Aireon data. Furthermore, NATS and NAV CANADA Air Traffic Controllers now receive reports within an average of 0.17 seconds, against a target of 2 seconds, which is a drastic improvement from the previous interval of every 10-18 minutes.

Shukla: India through AAI is the 26th nation signing agreement with Aireon. What are your future plans?

Thoma: For reference, we did sign an actual Data Services Contract--- a contract to deploy space-based ADS-B.  Besides, 11 additional Air Traffic Service Providers around the world have Data Service Agreements and are in the process of deploying Aireon’s system by the end of 2019. Those 11 Air Traffic Service Providers make up 26 countries. 

In terms of the future, we will do more than provide data for air traffic surveillance. We will continuously build upon a wealth of data, billions, upon billions of aircraft movements. 

Aireon is anticipating providing real-time data streams of aircraft position information that can be integrated with an existing Air Traffic Flow Management (ATFM) platforms.  For those that don’t need an ATFM platform but want to improve the situational awareness of their operational supervisors at air traffic control centers or airports, Aireon is hoping to launch a web-based tool that can give them departure information and a pseudo surveillance display l showing all flights originating outside a region within a three-hour flight time.  Aireon is also working with the multi-nodal and Cadena partners to see how Aireon data can help them be more effective with their approaches to ATFM.

Throughout the second half of this year and into next Aireon be working with our partners on how to best provide trajectory prediction so that it can be used for ATFM, improving the predictability of traffic situations.  In doing so, Aireon moves from simply providing data, to also providing information and analysis – both in real-time and the days, weeks and months following operations so that, as an industry, we can improve future operations by learning from the past.

Shukla: You said you are working on how to best provide trajectory predictions for aircraft. Is it a step toward air space-based air traffic surveillance for pilotless aircraft?

Thoma: Aireon does not have a comment on the development of autonomous vehicles, including pilotless aircraft. Our technology is developed to serve the people who oversee operations and maintain safety in airspaces around the world. People are at the heart of Aireon technology. We are committed to the men and women who serve ANSPs around the world—and, of course, the safety of the flying public.

Shukla: There have been several cases of missing planes worldwide and India-Pacific region is no exception - India Air Forces (IAF)’ AN 32 went missing in the Bay of Bengal on 22nd July 2016 it was declared untraced after about two months, Malaysia Airlines flight 370 with 239 people on board went missing in 2014, IAF's another AN 32 aircraft went missing on 3rd June 2019 which was traced on 8th day. With ADS-B in place, could you assure no more cases of missing planes?

Thoma: Aireon feels a duty to provide data from the last received ADS-B message to the proper authorities to assist in emergency situations such as with a missing or distressed plane. As happened recently with Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, Aireon is in a unique position to provide such a critical service to the aviation community.

Even though air travel is the safest form of mass transportation in the world, accidents will always happen. However, in July 2019, Aireon released the world’s first, free emergency aircraft location service, Aireon ALERT. In the event of an emergency, we assist aviation stakeholders—such as ANSPs, commercial aircraft operators/airlines and search and rescue organizations— pre-registered with the Aireon ALERT access to complete, real-time coverage including the aircraft’s 4-dimensional report with altitude, latitude, longitude and time information.

Before the Aireon, real-time global surveillance over emergency-prone regions was simply impossible. Remote locations, including oceanic areas, often had very little, if any, air traffic surveillance. As a result, aircraft such as MH370 could disappear from tracking systems—leading to problems in attempting to locate the distressed craft.

In an emergency situation, even a few minutes can make all the difference, and previous gaps in surveillance translated to safety, financial, and environmental dangers. Most importantly, this data is provided to all pre-registered entities completely free of charge. They do not need to be Aireon customers to take advantage of this public service in the event of an emergency.

Shukla: Does Aireon also provides this service to security forces or only restricted to civilian aircrafts? 

Thoma: Aireon has signed Data Service Agreements (DSAs) with 12 aviation organizations, making up 27 countries. These include Airports Authority of India (AAI), NAV CANADA, NATS, Enav, IAA, Naviair, DC-ANSP (Curacao), Air Traffic Navigational Services Co. Ltd (South Africa), The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority, ISAVIA (Iceland) and Aerial Navigation Safety in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA - Western Africa and Madagascar).

In reference to other aviation stakeholders, Aireon and Flight Aware announced a partnership in September 2016. Together, they created a product called Global Beacon. The Global Beacon is a first of its kind product and a turnkey solution for airlines to be in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS). The Global Beacon enables airlines of all sizes to proactively position themselves to respond in the event of an emergency.

In addition to Global Beacon, Flight Aware also integrates Aireon space-based ADS-B data into their other services and flight tracking tools. Flight Aware also has distributor partnerships for the re-selling of space-based ADS-B with SITAONAIR Flight Tracker solution, Rockwell Collins’ ARINC Direct, and IBM’s WSI Fusion. At this time, approximately 100 airlines are already signed up to receive space-based ADS-B through these partnerships.

Thank you