Indra, a Spanish defense contractor, has partnered with Enaire, a local air navigation services provider, to purchase two satellites next year for testing their proposed air traffic surveillance and communications constellation.
Their joint venture, Startical, announced on March 18 that they have ordered a 20-kilogram satellite from GomSpace and a 110-kilogram satellite from Kongsberg NanoAvionics, which are the first of more than 270 spacecraft planned for low Earth orbit.
Startical stated that the GomSpace satellite will be launched in early 2025, followed by NanoAvionics around the middle of the year, but did not provide launch details.
The company intends to assess the performance of a receiver for tracking Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) signals from aircraft and a very high-frequency (VHF) radio system for improving pilot communications.
No financial or technical details were disclosed.
Startical CEO J. Enrique González Laguna stated in a release, “Our aim is to become the leading global provider of air traffic management technology in the space segment and a market leader in satellite surveillance and voice and data communications services.”
Satellite operator Viasat seeks to improve airspace-tracking capabilities with its L-band satellites to complement currently congested VHF data links, as part of an air traffic modernization program with the European Space Agency.
According to ESA, equipping aircraft with higher-bandwidth communications would provide air traffic controllers with more data to schedule landings in advance, minimizing fuel consumption and maximizing airspace and airport capacity.
Viasat states that communications between pilots and controllers using the Iris network could also transition from voice to text messages for improved operational safety and efficiency.
Europe’s easyJet recently became the first airline to use Iris commercially, Viasat announced on Jan 29.
A Viasat spokesperson mentioned via email, “Iris provides everything the industry needs to modernise Air Traffic Management today and is fully operational.”
The service is currently deployed in Europe through a group of 19 air navigation service providers, Viasat added, with more expected to join in the coming months.
Startical mentioned that its proposed VHF constellation would utilize the aeronautical radio communications band approved in December by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), part of the United Nations.
U.S.-based Aireon, which presently offers ADS-B surveillance services using hosted payloads on Iridium Communications’ low Earth orbit constellation, also revealed plans on March 7 to secure a license for operating a space-based VHF system in the newly allocated spectrum band.
Aireon stated that space-based VHF holds particular potential for areas with limited connectivity or without ground infrastructure, such as remote regions and oceanic routes.
Similar to space-based ADS-B, Aireon noted that space-based VHF could help enhance airspace safety, efficiency, and sustainability by reducing the distance between aircraft and enabling more efficient routing.
“Space-based VHF has great potential for the entire aviation industry,” said Aireon CEO Don Thoma in an email, adding that the success of this will depend on the industry's investment. He also expressed anticipation for Starticle’s first satellite launches. SpaceNews Aireon has spent over 10 years developing, deploying, and running the only global space-based ADS-B system. Thoma mentioned that the company looks to utilize this experience and collaborate with partners including Iridium and air navigation services providers from the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and Denmark for the space-based VHF project.
Thoma mentioned that Aireon has invested over 10 years in building, implementing, and managing the world's only global space-based ADS-B system. He also emphasized their intention to leverage this experience along with partners such as Iridium and air navigation services providers based in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and Denmark for their space-based VHF effort.
Aireon CEO Don Thoma stated that space-based VHF has significant potential for the aviation industry, and its success will require investment from the entire industry. He also expressed eagerness to see the outcome of Starticle’s initial satellite launches.
