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It’s Just ADS-B

Aireon’s space-based global surveillance system is just Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) on a satellite. Instead of utilizing traditional radio receiver towers on the ground, Aireon has redesigned them into flexible and highly effective space-grade receivers on Iridium’s second generation satellite constellation. This allows for 100 percent global surveillance using the same ADS-B signal that aircraft already transmit.

What is ADS-B?
ADS-B is a surveillance technique that relies on aircraft broadcasting their identity, a precise GPS position and other information derived from on-board systems. ADS-B is automatic because no work is required from the pilot or Air Traffic Controller (ATC). It is also dependent because it relies on on-board avionics to provide surveillance information to other parties. The data is broadcast every half a second from the aircraft and can be received without a contract.

ADS-B is seen as a key enabler of advanced global surveillance. It is cheaper than traditional radar infrastructure while providing a more frequent and accurate position to the controller, including enhanced data fields.

A key benefit of Aireon’s ADS-B data is that it can also be used for post-flight analysis and allow a live data feed to other aviation systems for enhanced resource planning and operational decision making.

  • Automatic: periodically transmits information with no pilot or operator input required
  • Dependent: position and velocity vector are derived from the Global Positioning System (GPS)
  • Surveillance: a method of determining position of aircraft, vehicles or other asset
  • Broadcast: transmitted information available to anyone with the appropriate receiving equipment

For more technical information, see Figure 1 below:

Aireon - Space-Based ADS-B Global Air Traffic Surveillance and Tracking
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