Naviair adopts Saab ADS-B system to track flights, reduce separation over Greenland and Faroe Islands

STOCKHOLM, 19 May 2014. Naviair, the air navigation service provider (ANSP) for Denmark, has deployed Saab’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) system for the surveillance of ADS-B-equipped en route flights over Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

“The Saab ADS-B system for Naviair, operating in one of the harshest environments in Greenland, is providing reliable surveillance of flights,” explains Ken Kaminski, general manager of Saab ATM. “As a result, flights across this busy region will be operating in a more safe and efficient manner.”

Saab’s system provides ADS-B data to the Reykjavik Control Area Center, where controllers will utilize the accurate, high-update-rate surveillance picture to reduce the separation between ADS-B equipped aircraft. To date, approximately 70 percent of flights operating in this area are equipped with ADS-B-out avionics. Naviair expects to place the ADS-B system into full operation in the fourth quarter 2014.

“Saab was able to deploy the system rapidly and have the system quickly operating to our performance requirements,” says Henrik Jensen, project manager of Naviair. “The system will enable controllers to have greater coverage which will help surveillance of en route flights and search and rescue operations.”

Saab’s ADS-B solution provides safety-certifiable surveillance of equipped aircraft using proven ED-129-compliant sensors that feed data to new or legacy air traffic management (ATM) systems in standard ASTERIX messages, officials say. An ADS-B system from Saab delivers long-range surveillance while using low-bandwidth communications links for a high-performance, low operating cost solution, they add. Saab ground stations have flexible installation requirements (inside a shelter or outside) and support multilateration with a software upgrade.