CAAS and AIREON sign agreement to deploy Space-Based ADS-B service

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Aireon LLC signed an agreement to provide space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) data for the Singapore Flight Information Region (FIR). The agreement was signed by Mr. Kevin Shum, Director-General of CAAS, and Mr. Don Thoma, Chief Executive Officer of Aireon, on the sidelines of the Singapore Airshow.

Singapore will be the first air navigation service provider in the Asia Pacific region to adopt space-based ADS-B. The agreement includes a 12-year subscription to Aireon’s space-based ADS-B service which will allow for comprehensive surveillance coverage over the airspace in the entire Singapore FIR. 

Aireon’s space-based ADS-B service will be operational in 2018. Over the next two years, CAAS will be setting up the necessary infrastructure to integrate the service with Air Traffic Control systems. When implemented, space-based ADS-B will provide continuous surveillance of ADS-B equipped aircraft in the Singapore FIR. It will supplement existing surveillance sensors and improve air traffic controllers’ situational awareness. 

Mr. Kevin Shum, Director-General of CAAS, said, “Demand for air travel is growing rapidly in the Asia Pacific region. CAAS is committed to continuously invest in cutting edge and cost effective air traffic management capabilities to manage this growth.  The use of space-based ADS-B will keep Singapore at the forefront of emerging air traffic management technologies. By doing so, we can safely improve the efficiency and capacity of air navigation services for the areas under our responsibility." 

“A little over a year ago, Aireon signed a Memorandum of Agreement with CAAS to explore the feasibility and impact of implementing space-based ADS-B in the Singapore FIR,” said Mr. Don Thoma, CEO, Aireon. “The CAAS and Aireon teams successfully worked together to evaluate the capabilities, assess the operational changes and measure the benefits that could be realized by spaced-based ADS-B. We are proud of our continued partnership and fully support CAAS in providing enhanced services to their customers and the flying public.”