The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Aireon have signed an agreement to provide space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data for the Singapore flight information region. Singapore CAAS is the first air navigation service provider in the Asia-Pacific region to adopt space-based ADS-B.
Aireon’s surveillance system will use ADS-B receivers carried as hosted payloads on Iridium Next satellites. Based in McLean, Va., Aireon is a joint venture of Iridium Communications and air navigation service providers Nav Canada, ENAV of Italy, Naviair of Denmark and the Irish Aviation Authority.
Over the next two years, CAAS will install the necessary infrastructure to integrate its ATC systems with the ADS-B service, which begins operating in 2018. The agreement with Aireon includes a 12-year subscription to the space-based ADS-B service, which will provide comprehensive surveillance coverage over the airspace of the Singapore FIR.
Kevin Shum, CAAS director-general, and Don Thoma, Aireon CEO, signed the agreement on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow.
“Demand for air travel is growing rapidly in the Asia Pacific region,” Shum said. “CAAS is committed to continuously invest in cutting edge and cost effective air traffic management capabilities to manage this growth. The use of space-based ADS-B will keep Singapore at the forefront of emerging air traffic management technologies.”
