North Atlantic Route Chart. Photo: FAA

[Via Satellite 03-04-2014] Aireon has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with NAV Portugal to become an early customer of Aireon’s service. Under the MOU, NAV Portugal will work with Aireon, NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Naviair of Denmark, and NATS in the U.K. to figure out how Aireon’s space-based surveillance service can be used to improve air traffic management over the North Atlantic. Aireon will help NAV Portugal improve the safety of services in its airspace, including the oceanic airspace of the Santa Maria Flight Information Region.

“We see a tremendous amount of value in the enhanced operations of air traffic management through space-based ADS-B, and it will be very effective in managing our operations in both the North Atlantic as well as routes between Europe and South America,” said Luis Coimbra, president of the board for NAV Portugal.