The Institute of Communications and Navigation of DLR (German Aerospace Center) has recently signed a contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the provision of technical assistance in the evaluation of suitable communications standards for Air Traffic Management (ATM) services over satellite.
In the framework of the recently launched IRIS programme to design a satellite communication infrastructure for the provision of Air Traffic Management (ATM) services (see background information below), the Institute of Communications and Navigation of DLR, thanks to its long lasting experience in the field of aeronautical and satellite communication system design, has been selected by ESA in order to support its technical staff in the evaluation of the outcomes of the two couples of parallel contracts recently assigned by ESA to different European industrial consortia, two of them being devoted to the Communication System Design and two of them being devoted to the Analysis and Definition of Satellite System.
DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is active in many projects related to the use of satellite communications for ATM, such as the EU FP6 projects ANASTASIA (http://www.anastasia-fp6.org/) and NEWSKY (http://www.newsky-fp6.eu/).
Dr. Sandro Scalise, DLR Project Manager, said: “The recent consolidation of the ATM Target Concept carried out by the SESAR consortium paves the way for the inclusion of a satellite based component in the future communication system for ATM. We are very pleased to provide our technical support to the European Space Agency and thus contribute to the success of the ESA initiative in this field.”
"ESA wants to engage the highest expertise available Europe-wide for the development of this important initiative. The DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation is definitely a natural choice and will be a key partner in delivering the best solution," adds Nathalie Ricard, Iris Project Manager at the European Space Agency (ESA).
Background Information
DLR Institute of Communications and Navigation develops and investigates new systems and methods for radio transmission and positioning. These are widely used in broadcasting multimedia contents as well as for internet connection of satellite, airplane and remote areas. In the field of high rate data communication between satellite and ground the Institutes works on optical free-space transmission methods. In satellite navigation the Institute puts emphasis on safety-critical applications, which require a reliable positioning and timing information, and on positioning in urban canyons and indoors. The activities of the Institute span from theoretical investigations to the experimental verification of components and systems. Its results play a major role in aeronautical applications and ground-based traffic.
More info available at: http://www.dlr.de/kn/
The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA is an international organisation with 17 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, it can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. The ESA Telecommunications Programme has been in place since 1975. It has been paramount in the consolidation of the competitive position of European industry, operators and service providers.
More information available at http://www.esa.int/ and http://telecom.esa.int/
The Iris Programme for Air Traffic Management (ATM) aims to develop satellite communications for exchanges between aircraft and flight control centres, complementing existing and future systems in support of the growth in worldwide air traffic operations.
Iris uses the ARTES (Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems) programme to offer support to European industry in developing ideas for the market and citizenry. The new element for air traffic management via satellite is ARTES 10.
The Iris programme is divided into three phases:
Air Traffic Management via satellite will offer many benefits to users:
Satellites can provide global coverage, and contribute to several regional systems. The space segment would consist of at least two payloads aboard separate satellites, which would provide the link from feeder stations to mobile users, in this case aircraft.
The Single European Sky legislation was launched by the European Commission in March 2004 to set the political framework for the viable growth of air transport in Europe: by 2020, global air travel is expected to double, resulting in increasing congestion on the ground and in the air. This situation may require two new, independent air-to-ground links for aircraft communication.
All levels of civil aviation authorities, including Eurocontrol, the agency responsible for European airspace, recognise the need to complement the current systems with added capacity. The SESAR Programme will work towards implementing this new air traffic management concept. ESA, with the support of the European space industry, will contribute to the development of a satellite-based solution.
More info available at: http://telecom.esa.int/iris