Airservices air traffic control tower at Melbourne Airport. Photo:
Airservices Australia

[Via Satellite 03-02-2015] AirServices Australia has teamed with Inmarsat and other aviation stakeholders to trial improved flight tracking services on commercial airline flights to and from the country. The announcement follows an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) resolution on Feb. 6 to adopt a new 15-minute tracking standard for commercial aircraft.

ASA is working with Inmarsat, Qantas and Virgin Australia to develop the operational concept for the trial, using Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Contract (ADS-C) satellite technology in Australia’s oceanic regions. ADS-C provides Air Traffic Controllers (ATCs) with a constantly updated surveillance picture of their airspace, thereby allowing safe and efficient oceanic operations. ASA will be the first ANSP to trial the ICAO standard, using Inmarsat’s global flight tracking ADS-C messaging service.Malaysia and Indonesia will also be trialling the new system.