Future development of navigation systems

For many aviation regulations the start of the twenty-first century is a time of changes. To improve the safety standards, increasing commercialization, new technology, the implementation of new global, space-based systems are just some of them.

The steady growth of air traffic world-wide has created an urgent need to increase airspace capacity in and around airports and to create higher throughput of air traffic.

To identify specific problem in the air navigation field and propose, in appropriate form, action aimed at solving these problems, a special Planning Group was set up by the Council of ICAO.

Probably the most significant development in air control over the next 20 years will be the introduction of precise navigation and position reporting through Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) cover three principle areas: voice and datalinks, global navigation and automatic dependent surveillance.

British Airways is one airline currently undertaking trials of satellite based air traffic control using one of its fleet of Boeing 747 - 400 aircraft. In 1993 a flight from Osaka in Japan to Heathrow used the system to test communications, navigation and aircraft surveillance ready to use on the North Atlantic routes. Ground stations were able to frigger position reports and other information from the onboard computers via a land based satellite and then to the ADS unit on the flightdeck. Within a matter of seconds the aircraft position was relayed back to ATC together with information as the flight passed over particular waypoints on the journey. The systems will be used to report position instead of the current method which relies on HF radio.

During a period of 5,5 hours of the flight, more than 1700 reports were received.

Schmid Telecommunication connects air traffic controllers with pilots and other ATC centres with revolutionary standard of quality. Rapidly, simply and as reliably as a Swiss watch.

The user interface, for example, is based on a touchscreen, which not only makes life a lot easier for users but also cuts work and expense to a minimum when systems are adapted to future development.

Ceotronics introduces the first wireless digital headset for push-back operations. For the first time pilot and ground handler can simultaneously speak with each other and listen at the same time, providing full duplex communication. This means better and more effective com-munications, and at the same time, significant savings in time and much greater security. There is a complete freedom of movement around the aircraft and there is no danger of cable getting caught in the wheels of the aircraft. Also, the risk of a lightning strike is impossible. An additional headset is easily adder for training purposes or for drivers of pushback trucks.

Over 30 years of advanced technologies, provided by Alenia Difesa to world-wide airspace users, give birth to a new range of Air Traffic Management Systems. Leading the evolutionary trends of Air Traffic Control requirements, the Radar Division of Alenia Difesa offers Primary Radars equipped with Planar Array antenna, Mode-s Monopulse SSR and Fault Tolerant Processor for real time applications Specially developed application software and work stations combine to optimize a controller’s workload and productivity, and provide communications for the exchange and integration of operational data. Air Traffic controllers at control centres in more than 60 countries share with the Company advanced technologies, and the commitment to safety for those who fly.