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Aireon has signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkey’s air navigation service provider General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI). The two parties are set to collaborate on space-based ADS-B in Turkish airspace.
“DHMI controls one of the fastest growing airspaces on the European continent. There has been significant growth in international routes utilizing Turkey as a hub, and passenger traffic is at an all-time high,” said Cyriel Kronenburg, VP of aviation services for Aireon. “Aireon is primed and ready to assist DHMI in the creation of a concept of operations for the deployment of space-based ADS-B.”
DHMI borders Eurocontrol airspace. Aireon said it provided terminal and passenger service to more than 35 million domestic and international passengers across 55 airports in Turkey in the first three months of 2017. DHMI also regulates and controls the airspace over the high seas within the Ankara and İstanbul Flight Information Regions.
Aireon said Turkey intends to use space-based ADS-B to augment its current surveillance capabilities, as well as a contingency layer, in the event of an outage. DHMI will work with Aireon to develop a concept of operations for the implementation of space-based ADS-B in its airspace.
In June, Aireon announced the successful launch and deployment of the second batch of 10 Iridium Next satellites, carrying ADS-B payloads. The third launch is scheduled for Oct. 4 and will increase the total number of AireonSM payloads in orbit to 30. Another 45 prepared for space in a series of five additional launches, planned over the next year.