Fri, May 27, 2005
New Air Traffic Surveillance Technology Launched
Australian air traffic
controllers this week began separating aircraft for the first time
using the next generation of tracking technology and one of the
most innovative surveillance advancements since radar.
Australia became only the second country in the world to start
using Automatic Dependence Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) to
provide services for aircraft participating in a trial of the
technology in Queensland. ADS-B provides radar like accuracy for
aircraft tracking. The aircraft determines its position using a
Global Positioning System receiver and broadcasts this information
along with its identity, altitude and speed to air traffic
control.
"Not only does this mark the first time ADS-B has been
authorised for aircraft separation in Australia but it also marks
the first time in the world this particular type of ADS-B system
has been used operationally,’’ an Airservices Australia
spokesman said.
"For over 50 years, radar has been the primary means of
detecting and tracking aircraft but the introduction ADS-B takes us
to an entirely new plateau in aviation technology
development.’’
Airservices was authorised by the Civil Aviation Safety
Authority to introduce a minimum separation distance of five
nautical miles between ADS-B equipped aircraft. This separation
distance is equivalent to that authorised for radar. The Queensland
trial has been underway since 2004 to test the safety and accuracy
of ADS-B for aircraft tracking and has proven that the technology
is equivalent to or better than radar in accuracy and
performance.
Following the success
of the trial, Airservices has commenced the installation of 28
ADS-B ground stations across Australia to provide almost nationwide
air traffic surveillance capability above 30,000 feet.
ADS-B is also being used to provide air traffic separation
services in Alaska, but it is uses technology specific to the
United States. The system being deployed in Australia is accepted
as the global standard.
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