First phase of European satellite-based air traffic control communication system completed

Inmarsat and the European Space Agency (ESA) have completed Phase 1 of ESA’s Iris Precursor, the new satellite-based air–ground communication system for Air Traffic Management (ATM).

The completion of Phase 1 – which has validated the architecture and system design, plus the safety and security of ESA’s Iris programme - releases €7.6m in funding from ESA and its partners for Phase 2, which will lead development of an enhanced satellite network to overlay existing terrestrial VHF networks to carry ATM communications over European skies.

ESA’s Iris programme is part of the European Union’s Single European Skies ATM Research (SESAR) initiative, which aims to address the annual €4bn cost resulting from deficiencies in the European ATM system.  Inmarsat state that without SESAR flying in Europe will reach its growth limits, consequently leading to delays, higher costs for airlines, and higher CO₂ emissions.

In 2010, the European ATM system controlled 9.5 million flights with 33,000 flights experienced on busy days. The European Commission forecast predicts this will increase to nearly 17 million flights per year by 2030 and 50,000 flights on busy days.  In 2010 there were 19.4 million minutes delay for en-route flights, and on average each flight travelled 49km further than the equivalent direct routed flight.