Overview
The Aeronautic world is entering into a new age of aviation - the age of sustainable growth - characterised by the need for more affordable, cleaner, quieter, safer and more secure air travel. European aeronautics is committed to playing a prime role in the shaping aviation of this new age. Research and technology development is essential in responding to this challenge.
Nowadays, concepts, procedures and technologies to optimise task distribution between aircraft and ground with a medium term perspective, including airborne separation assurance system applications are being studied and developed. These concepts and technologies have to reduce uncertainty in the air traffic management system to integrate air traffic flow management, airports, air traffic control centres, aircraft and airline operating centres in a strategic and dynamic layered planning system based on 4D-trajectory information.
The Project objectives were:
- Assessment of the benefits of SatCom systems for ASAS applications:
- simulation of SatCom impact on ASAS applications;
- implementation of four test bed ADS-B applications (ASPA S&M, ASPA ITP, ADS-B-NRA and ADS B ADD) and a TIS-B;
- analysis of performance of test beds when using SatCom technology;
- cost-Benefit Analysis of SatCom technology for surveillance applications.
- Validate SatCom requirements for surveillance applications:
- provide a first architecture for SatCom systems used for surveillance purposes;
- design and implement a simulator of the SatCom system;
- adapt existing satellite platform for surveillance applications (broadcast mode).
- Connectivity, standardisation and networking issues of SatCom systems - Connectivity of Asterix compliant applications with ADS-B systems.
Within the scope of the ASPASIA project an agreed group of ASAS Application Scenarios have been configured for a simulation study of their operation with the availability of satellite data links. In addition to the ASAS scenarios in which satellite based communications provides a means of executing an ASAS manoeuvre, consideration have also been given to scenarios in which the available aircraft borne information is insufficient for a safe and/or efficient devolved ASAS operation.
In parallel to the general study of SatCom applicability to ASAS applications, we have pre-selected four applications in which SatCom provides a clear advantage, and we plan to develop five test beds, one for each selected application and the other for TIS-B, in order to achieve the project objectives.
The following applications were considered:
- Enhanced Sequencing and Merging Operations (ASPA-S&M): This is a well-defined ASAS application in the TMA, where there is ground-radar coverage to support a complete and coherent TIS. Working from this specification of the application as a baseline, 'worst case' SATCOM communications requirements can be identified. For areas without ground radar coverage, e.g. oceanic, the application can be adapted to support en-route manoeuvres. Thus, this test-bed application is based on the requirements of S&M manoeuvres in oceanic airspace.
- In-trail procedure in oceanic airspace (ATSA-ITP). The test bed for this application is a PC computer-based simulation and analysis toolkit with the functionality to evolve to a hardware in-the-loop, real-time simulation facility. To test this application the airspace functions of traffic generation, ATC/ASAS operation procedures and airspace environmental characteristics will be specifically developed.
- ATC surveillance in non-radar areas (ADS-B-NRA). This application aims to provide radar like separation services in non-radar, or other remote, areas where the installation of radar could not be justified otherwise.
- Aircraft derived data for ATC tools (ADS-B-ADD). There are several ground ATC tools that benefit from this application. Concretely we focus on AMAN (Arrival MANager) tool that is a tactical ATC tool helping the final en route and TMA controllers to optimise the aircraft landing sequence by using flight information. To validate this application the adaptation of commercial MAESTRO software tool has been used.
These end-to-end testbeds consisted of the integration of survei
Funding
Results
The main ASPASIA objective, the investigation of new advanced Satellite Communications technology as complementary ADS-B and TIS-B data link in the provision of surveillance applications, was developed by:
- validating SatCom requirements for surveillance applications, and
- assessing the benefits of SatCom systems for surveillance applications.
In terms of SatCom validation, all the tests and analysis have clearly shown that SatCom is a valid data transmission medium for ASAS Package 1 ground and airborne surveillance applications. However, the SatCom technology makes sense when the scenario is global, that is, most of the time the same service offered by the satellites could be used by a lot of stakeholders and applications.
The framework in which ASPASIA needs to be considered is the one defined by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The global philosophy is to insure that aircraft can safely operate on a worldwide basis. Different systems can be deployed in different regions of the world (because of different calendars, or different local situations), but global interoperability must be maintained.
In terms of assessing SatCom benefits, and in the particular case of the terminal area, the Arrival Manager (AMAN) is one of the tools that may benefit from SatCom transponded Air Derived Data (ADD) applications. As aircraft approach terminal areas from airspace outside the surveillance zone of the associated TMA Radar, the SatCom ADS-B message would be available for application by the TMA Air Traffic Control AMAN. With a greater time-horizon, the AMAN could have an enhanced capability to develop arrival sequences that avoid airborne holding.
However, the constraints imposed by the current RFG definitions of the selected applications (namely, ADS-B-NRA, TIS-B/ATSAW and ATSA-ITP) limit the scope of SatCom to provide clear benefits over existing ADS-B technologies such as 1090ES. In fact, the current RFG definitions are very much aligned with the capabilities of existing ADS-B technologies.
With this in mind, it would seem appropriate to focus on new applications (for example, in oceanic airspace) in which SatCom offers enhanced ground surveillance opportunities in the current procedural ATC environment. The advantages of the increased range performance may have benefits for the tactical management of air traffic manoeuvring from Radar controlled separation towards procedural separation airspace. The particular feat
Technical Implications
The assets developed and demonstrated by ASPASIA project can be synthesised and proposed as contributions to ICAO technical process for the assessment of the feasibility to integrate new satellite communication systems in the next aeronautical mobile communication infrastructure.
The results of ASPASIA project can be used as input to future development of broadcast applications and broadcast inter-networks in further ICAO Standards.
Additionally, the outcomes of ASPASIA will also contribute to a more 'global' ATM SatCom case, by bundling the services required by ASPASIA (in the surveillance domain) with other satellite services in the communications domain: CPDLC, METEO.