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NAV CANADA and NATSOpen a new window, the United Kingdom’s air navigation service provider, have been exploring the capabilities of space-based ADS-B technology and its potential to benefit passenger, cargo, general aviation and military aircraft by transforming traditional air traffic management of trans-Atlantic flights from traditional flight tracks, which historically have been more constrained, to increasingly optimal flightpaths, while also increasing safety.

Since its successful launch in 2019, space-based ADS-B has been a game-changer within the aviation industry. Developed by AireonOpen a new window, a company that builds and deploys global satellite-based systems to track and monitor ADS-B equipped aircraft, air navigation service providers now have the ability to discern the position, speed, and altitude of every ADS-B equipped aircraft in real time. These are just a few of new and valuable data points that represent a transformational change to how air traffic services professionals have historically managed air traffic and the beginning of a global revolution toward enhanced safety, efficiency and environmental benefits.

Together, NAV CANADA and NATS are undertaking controlled and limited exercises. They are utilizing space-based ADS-B to safely enable operators to plan more optimal flightpaths over the North Atlantic without accounting for the NAT Organized Track Structures (OTS), which has been historically required to manage large traffic volumes where aircraft cannot be seen by surveillance. In very simplistic terms, the OTS is like car lanes on the highway, only in the sky and across the North Atlantic.

The significant decrease in the number of transatlantic flights due to the pandemic provides an opportunity for NAV CANADA and NATS to collaborate with customers and stakeholders to analyze simulated and actual data on OTS track effectiveness and the potential for increased efficiency when it is not in place.

“The recent and significant decrease in air traffic over the North Atlantic makes it possible to consider testing operational changes of this magnitude,” said Matthew Strickland, Shift Manager, Gander Area Control Centre Operations, NAV CANADA. “In the weeks ahead, NAV CANADA will look for opportunities to test this new approach to air traffic management.”

The ability of space-based ADS-B to track planes anywhere and anytime has increased safety in the Gander oceanic control area. For example, air traffic service professionals can now detect instances where aircraft have deviated from the air traffic control cleared flight profile. Additionally, new reduced separations approved by the International Civil Aviation OrganizationOpen a new window, have been designed specifically to capitalize on the potential benefits of space-based ADS-B in oceanic environments. These new standards have safely reduced the required spacing between flights by nearly two thirds of what had previously been available.

Taken together, the increased safety and reduced separations have allowed an environment where traditional flight planning practices and norms can be re-examined. This exercise is an initial step in exploring further enhancements over the North Atlantic.

The results should indicate whether the removal of the OTS has a positive or negative effect on the overall trajectory, fuel savings and flight times, as well as establishing a better understanding of the impact on workload for crews, dispatchers/flight planners and air traffic controllers.

Although airlines have always been able to request their optimal trajectory across the NAT regardless of the OTS, a combination of constraints, such as capacity and flight planning system limitations, have limited them from doing so. The removal of the OTS for these planned exercises will remove many constraints and allow airlines to choose the best path across the ocean to optimize their flights’ efficiency; which may reduce travel time, fuel burn and emissions.

A common air traffic services term is “structure builds capacity”. While the OTS gave the North Atlantic a flow management structure and allowed the great number of aircraft to be moved efficiently within the constraints that existed, space-based ADS-B with real-time surveillance has enabled a reduction of separation constraints and allowed more flexibility when choosing the route and altitudes for flightpaths.

Already we know that the introduction of surveillance services via ADS-B implementation has provided a safer oceanic environment, as demonstrated by trend analysis of error mitigation since its use commenced in March 2019, and one that therefore better supports operational changes.

“There is certainly an appetite to enhance operations on the North Atlantic to provide benefits and better serve our customers,” said Jeffrey Edison, Manager, Gander Area Control Centre Operations. “With the removal of the OTS, we expect these tests will provide conclusions regarding the effects on service delivery. It will position us to take the next steps to developing an approach for achieving more efficient routes over the North Atlantic and to deliver opportunity for major fuel and carbon emission savings. However, it should be noted that these are only preliminary tests and there is much work to do.”

NAV CANADA expects the tests will also help validate ongoing procedures for safe operations when an OTS is determined to not be required. These determinations will need to be considered collaboratively with other air navigation service providers, participating airlines and other North Atlantic airspace users.

One of the challenges to transitioning to a non-OTS air traffic management approach over the North Atlantic is the management of the many moving parts in place day-to-day, such as changing weather, forecasted wind models, location of jet-streams and the flux of air traffic. As well, there is a very different set of circumstances to manage when air traffic over the North Atlantic becomes much busier.

“Recognizing the critical role the OTS has performed in managing traffic over the North Atlantic, full communication with all stakeholders and completion of safety management system activities are required to support any plans for changes,” said Doug Dillon, General Manager, Gander Flight Information Region, NAV CANADA. “From these tests we will learn more about the resources and infrastructure needed and the possibilities for a wider implementation of a more efficient air traffic management over the North Atlantic.”

These exercises and the outcomes will give NAV CANADA important information needed to make decisions and plans to implement operational changes safely while benefiting customers. The next step will be to incorporate the information from these tests into future tabletop exercises with our customers and partners to further understand the challenges and opportunities to developing a strategy for eventual deployment of space-based ADS-B technology to manage trans-Atlantic flights with optimal flightpaths.

These exercises potentially hold significant value. If they go as we hope, with full buy-in from the airlines to collaborate on simulating increased traffic levels, they could provide tremendous insight.

As traffic over the Atlantic increases in the years ahead, it is expected that the safe and effective transition to a more efficient and effective air traffic management tool, will contribute to our efforts to reduce the footprint of the OTS to only what is absolutely necessary.