In many respects Australia is leading the world in the introduction of new satellite and ground-based technologies in air traffic management. Further advances in these and other innovations are sure to emerge with the replacement of the current Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS) system by a combined civil/military system.
There has been considerable international industry interest in Australia’s moves to field a combined civil and military air traffic management (ATM) system, appropriately dubbed ‘OneSky Australia’, proposed under the 2009 aviation policy white paper, which had called for greater coordination of military and civilian ATM services.
Australia has one of the safest and most efficient ATM systems in the world, thanks largely to a decision in the early 1990s to move to The Australian Advanced Air Traffic System (TAAATS) – a system based around two major air traffic centres at Brisbane and Melbourne. Servicing more than eleven per cent of the world’s airspace the system was developed by Thales following contract award nearly 20 years ago. TAAATS is now reaching the end of its life.
Defence is a significant partner in Australian aviation, both as a provider of air navigation services and as a user of airspace. Defence provides air traffic control services and supporting infrastructure, such as radar facilities, at Darwin, Townsville and Williamtown (Newcastle) airports. Defence’s Australian Defence Air Traffic System (ADATS) is also due for replacement.
The 2009 white paper saw an ideal opportunity to synchronise the ATM capability and support requirements of the two agencies, as both organisations were to undergo major equipment upgrades and replacement programs from 2013.
As planned the proposed new system will remove the need for the separate management of civilian and military airspace and the limitations of operating different systems with separate databases. And there has been no disagreement between the two bodies concerned – Airservices Australia and Defence.
But the concept of harmonising civil and military ATM systems is by no means new, nor is it confined to this country. Back in 2002 a feasibility study, initially focussed on integrating the separate civil and military systems at RAAF-controlled airports at Townsville and Darwin, revealed the potential to deliver efficiencies but did not progress. Nevertheless harmonisation was in the air and four years later air traffic control at Perth International Airport was combined with air traffic control (ATC) at RAAF Pearce and Jandakot airports.
By 2010 the two organisations agreed on a joint operational concept to develop and introduce harmonised civil and military ATM systems. The concept embraced common operational and technical requirements, and any particular unique Defence requirements.
A joint project office was established within Defence and a business case for the new system prepared for government approval. As part of the process and to gauge industry interest, a request for information (RFI) for the proposed ATM platform, was released in 2011. There was wide industry response with reportedly valuable input from BAE Systems, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Thales and others.
Acceptance of the business case brought first pass approval for Defence, and Board approval for Airservices Australia, to conduct the country’s first joint acquisition for a common ATM system. Draft requirements for the new system were released at an industry brief in December 2011.
Following further refinement to the requirements, in June 2013 the two organisations, Airservices Australia and the Department of Defence, released the Request for Tender (RFT) for Australia’s next generation air traffic management platform, effectively replacing two ATM systems, both approaching their end of life. The tender closed on 30 October 2013, with a decision on contract award, reportedly worth between $350-$500 million, anticipated in 2015 and the possibility that the system might be up and running in the 2018-2020 timeframe.
The combined ATM system is expected to have a service life of 15-20 years. As mentioned in the October 2013 ADM, Airservices Australia will be leading the tender process and has more flexibility in their processes than perhaps Defence.
So what lies ahead?
Airservices Australia sees technology and innovation as the two cornerstones of the international air traffic management system and drivers of major safety system enhancements into the future. Anticipated is greater use of satellite-based surveillance systems such as ADS-B, as well as the increased adoption of other systems and procedures such as Terrain Avoidance Warning Systems (TAWS), Approach with Vertical Guidance (APV), Required Navigational Performance (RNP), Aircraft Collision Avoidance Systems (ACAS) and Wide Area Multilateration (WAM).
Airservices has been no slouch in the introduction of new technology and has been working closely with Thales since the current system’s inception to deliver continuous software upgrades and system enhancements.
As we have seen Australia introduced TAAATS to ATC towers in 2000 and progressively updated, it is still regarded as one of the world’s most advanced integrated ATM systems, providing terminal, en route and oceanic air traffic services over most of this country’s 56 million square miles of airspace.
But only some five per cent of Australia’s total airspace is covered by radar and where this is not available aircraft position information is derived from other sources, including current flight plan data, pilot position reports and Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B).
ADS-B is an air traffic surveillance technology that enables aircraft to be accurately tracked by air traffic controllers and other pilots without the need for conventional radar. The system is based on equipment linked to the aircraft’s navigation system that records its position via GPS and then broadcasts the precise location of the aircraft via a digital data link at rapid intervals.
The broadcast, which includes identity, altitude, velocity and other surveillance data, is received by dedicated ground stations and relayed to air traffic control for precise tracking of the aircraft. The information can be used by other aircraft and air traffic control to show the aircraft’s position and altitude on display screens.
Thales ATM was awarded a contract in 2004 for the provision of 56 ADS-B Ground Stations and since then ADS-B services have been implemented in stages during which time surveillance coverage has progressively increased. Currently, the system is supported by 29 duplicated ADS-B ground stations nationwide plus 14 ADS-B capable multilateration sites in Tasmania and 16 sites in the Sydney basin.
These are now delivering continuous surveillance of aircraft operations in high-level airspace across western, central and northern Australia where radar coverage does not currently exist. A further 14 ground stations are being considered to support the needs of airlines, regional and general aviation.
TAAATS has been upgraded to process as many as 1,000 ADS-B flights simultaneously from up to 200 ground stations. TAAATS also now uses ADS-B technology to provide air traffic controllers with automated safety alerting capabilities and continually monitors the assigned route and altitude of ADS-B approved aircraft for any discrepancies.
The fitment and operation of approved ADS-B avionics equipment is now mandatory from 12 December 2013 for all Australian aircraft operations at, or above, FL 290 (unless CASA has authorised otherwise). But the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has warned those planning to buy aircraft from the USA for operation in Australia that the GNSS and ADS-B equipment installed on such aircraft must meet Australian requirements. Aircraft from the US with ADS-B through the Universal Access Transceiver System will not work in Australia and are not compliant with the new rules.
OneSKY ATM contenders
ADM has no definitive list of those organisations who have tendered for the OneSky requirement, nevertheless we have included references to those who earlier were known to have showed interest in the project and others whom we believe may be contenders. Aside from Lockheed Martin, which announced its bid and team arrangements, actual and potential contenders for the OneSky requirement have been extremely reluctant to publicise their involvement despite bids now being ‘in the box’.
Thales Australia
As we have seen from the foregoing description of the company’s enhancements to the TAAATS platform, incumbent developer Thales Australia is obviously a strong contender for the combined OneSky Australia ATC requirement. With 80 per cent of revenue generated through exports of its TopSky ATM systems, from the Centre for Advanced ATM Studies it established in Melbourne, Thales Australia is a major Australian exporter of ATM systems with cumulative exports nearing $1 billion since 1995.
The research centre has numerous workstations allowing Thales to work with a number of local universities, including Swinburne and RMIT, on ATM technology. According to Thales, one of CASIA’s earliest projects has been the development of the company’s offering for the OneSky requirement.
With its eye on the future Thales Australia has been addressing the goals of SESAR and NextGen - the modernisation programs underway in Europe and the US - in manageable steps that allow early introduction of some of the new concepts.
Perhaps Thales has proposed a scaleable version of TopSky for the Australian requirement.
Raytheon Australia
ADATS incumbent Raytheon Australia is expected to mount a very strong bid for the combined replacement for TAAATS and ADATS, the hardware and software to run Australia’s ATC systems. Will this be in expectation of regaining ground lost to Hughes Aircraft (now Raytheon) in 1994 with the award of the original TAAATS contract to Thompson Radar (later Thales)?
Hughes commenced proceedings against the Civil Aviation Authority for unfair dealing in December 1994 and was subsequently awarded damages. The case led to redefinition of tender requirements*.
Raytheon is a major entity in civil and military air traffic management, with extensive experience in providing ATM solutions for civil and military customers in countries covering some 60 per cent of the world’s airspace.
The Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) automation platform, developed by Raytheon, is a major component of the FAA’s NextGen initiative with more than 150 STARS systems now in operation. Dallas Fort Worth is the first of the FAA’s high volume hubs to transition to STARS as terminal approach control facilities are modernised in the US airspace. Noteworthy is the fact that this has included the installation of a common terminal automation system across the FAA and the US Defence Department.
Also developed for the FAA is the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) which uses ground-based facilities to monitor and correct conventional GPS signals before diverting them to WAAS-capable satellite navigation receivers in aircraft, providing reliable, all-altitude navigation signals even in remote and mountainous areas.
The company has combined STARS and its AutoTrac III flight and surveillance processing system in its deployable military and civil ATC systems and recently won a USAF contract to build mobile ATC systems capable of providing approach control guidance to military and other aircraft operating within a terminal airspace area.
Its mobile air traffic control system (MATC) was deployed for relief operations in the Philippines where it would have been used by RAAF C-130 and C-17A aircraft, also providing assistance to that storm ravaged country.
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin will team with four ATM technology providers to offer its Skyline Enterprise solution. They include Australian-based partners Adacel Technologies, Daronmont Technologies and Frequentis Australasia. In addition, Airbus ProSky with subsidiary, Metron Aviation, will join the team.
Skyline Enterprise will feature capabilities that include Adacel’s flight path conflict detection tool and Frequentis voice communications and integrated tower products. Daronmont will provide extensive experience in engineering and deployment of complex systems to the Department of Defence. Metron Aviation is the current provider of Australia’s advanced air traffic flow management (ATFM) system, and their knowledge and skills will ensure the solution optimises airspace and airport resources.
Lockheed Martin says it developed its SkyLine ATM system to meet the needs of the mid-market international arena. Currently there are several ATC systems in Europe and Asia that are based on the SkyLine product family, including systems in Albania, China, Kazakhstan, Korea and NZ.
A commercial off-the-shelf solution, SkyLine systems feature flight data processing (FDP) and surveillance data processing (SDP) capabilities that can function as a tower, terminal area, procedural or flow monitoring system service. SkyLine provides a flexible configuration of features and functions to fit customer requirements.
NavCanada
Nav Canada is a privately run, not-for-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada’s civil air navigation system (ANS). It has been responsible for air traffic in Canadian airspace since November 1, 1996 when the government transferred the ANS from Transport Canada to Nav Canada. As part of the transfer, or privatization, Nav Canada paid the government CA$1.5 billion. Nav Canada manages 12 million aircraft movements a year for 40,000 customers in over 18 million square kilometres, making it the world’s second-largest ANSP by traffic volume.
It is understood that NavCanada has teamed with Saab Security for OneSky. Saab offers a wide range of solutions designed to support air transportation players in optimising and securing the different sectors of air transportation covering traffic management, airport support, security and solutions providing net centric capabilities.
An interesting development by the Iridium Communications and NavCanada joint venture Aireon, is the hosting of ADS-B data processing and distribution on Iridium’s NEXT second-generation satellite constellation, to enable fully global and continuous space-based monitoring and control of aircraft. ITT Exelis will design and build the ADS-B data processing and distribution platform, a critical component of the Aireon system.
Aireon’s space-based ADS-B solution will enable air traffic controllers to safely grant pilots more efficient flight levels and direct routing where ground-based surveillance infrastructure cannot be deployed cost-effectively. Air traffic surveillance will be available globally to Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), including over oceans and remote regions where such surveillance is not currently possible.
Selex
Selex ES last year announced that it had partnered with BAE Systems in a bid to replace Defence Air Traffic Control surveillance radars with integrated sensors at nine fixed base locations around the country. Their proposal included the integration of ATC radars, tower transmitters and approach automation systems with the aim of increasing security protection. It also facilitates wider interoperability between military and civil ATM systems, ensuring continued safe and reliable ATC.
Selex’s relationship with BAE Systems began more than 20 years ago when they teamed up in 1993 to deliver a reliable Defence Air Traffic Management System in Australia, which they’ve jointly supported for more than two decades.
So have Selex and BAE Systems teamed for the OneSky Australia ATC platform? Or has Selex partnered with Boeing for OneSky? Selex provides a wide range of systems and scalable solutions for ATM from en-route and approach ATC centres to simulation and training centres, from primary and secondary radar to weather radar, from ADS-B ground stations to wide area multilateration systems and navigation aids to over 150 nations.
Indra
Spanish company Indra has been supplying ATM systems around the world for more than 30 years, with over 1,000 ATM installations in over 90 countries. The company says that its AirCon 2100 is one of the most advanced automated air traffic control systems, meeting ICAO standards and recommended practices ATM.
AirCon 2100 enhances flight safety by providing the controllers with information of air movements from radars, flight plans, direction finders and air-ground data-link messages. It also provides a high degree of automation of the control tasks, with flight plan management tools, automatic flight tracking system, automatic coordination between control position and control centres, safety nets, and traffic prediction tools.
The company’s products cover the whole range of ATM management systems including surveillance, automation, communications, simulators and navaids.
UK NATS
The UK’s National Air Transport Service (NATS) claims that as well as being responsible for safe and efficient air traffic within the UK, it provides air traffic solutions to customers globally. Working with airlines, airports, Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) and governments in over 30 countries, NATS says it is providing innovative solutions to aviation’s critical issues.
Operating since 1962, NATS was established as a public/private partnership in 2001with 49 per cent ownership by the UK Government. NATS service lines encompass airspace, airports, engineering, consultancy, information and Defence, delivering environmental performance, improved efficiencies and advanced technology.
NATS says it has many years’ experience in civil/military harmonisation, finding solutions that deliver airspace benefits for both these stakeholders. Operation Eastern Sunrise, a major change program, that moved all southern military operations onto the same technical platform used by civil controllers at the main NATS Centre at Swanwick, was delivered 5.5 years in advance. Currently more than 170 Defence air traffic personnel work in NATS two en route centres.
CSC
CSC specialises in applying the latest information technologies to ATM. This includes business rules, system wide data and metadata approaches, and CSC’s architecture for developing new decision support tools and integrating them with legacy ATM systems.
With more than 30 years’ experience in the field, CSC is active in both enhancing today’s ATM system and exploring new operational concepts for the future. The company’s capabilities include air traffic flow optimisation, regional metering, air-ground data link, and tactical air traffic control for all phases of flight.
CSC has supported the FAA for more than 30 years and has supported NASA for almost as long as the agency has existed. Today, the company also participates in NASA research efforts, developing new concepts and prototypes for ATM systems of the future. Products developed by CSC under this research model are being prototyped and used in ATM operations.
ITT Exelis
In January 2013 ITT Exelis acquired Australian firm C4i Pty Ltd for approximately USD$16.8 million. C4i, based in Melbourne, provides advanced communications software for a range of applications including ATM, defence, public safety, mining and homeland security.
C4i became part of the Information Systems business of Exelis providing synergies with the air traffic business and an immediate focus on OneSky.
In the US, Exelis provides the FAA with engineering expertise and full system solutions in the development and implementation of a modernized air traffic system. The company’s core program is the ADS-B system: the cornerstone program of the FAA’s NextGen initiative to modernise from a ground-based system of air traffic control to a satellite-based system of air traffic management. As the prime contractor on ADS-B, Exelis is designing, building and operating a nationwide system of radio communications, telecommunications networks, information technology and software to deliver highly accurate, networked, real-time surveillance data to the automated systems of the FAA.
In another major NextGen program, Exelis is leading a world-class team of aviation industry companies developing leading-edge concepts under the Systems Engineering 2020 (SE2020) contract. The work spans all dimensions of ATC including ground systems, avionics, aircraft, air traffic control rules and procedures, human factors, safety and security, environmental processes and standards.
C4i provides Exelis with significant technical and product capability to support ATM and defence pursuits in the region. C4i provides advanced communications software that is central to the needs of ATM systems and mobile communications solutions for commercial, homeland security and defence systems around the globe. Its Internet Protocol (IP)-based voice control and switching solutions allow for large networks of radio devices to be seamlessly integrated.
Exelis says it is the world leader in mobile, transportable and fixed installations for military and dual use airfields. Since 1942, the company has produced and installed more than 1,000 ATC/ATM systems in 63 countries.
Boeing
The Boeing Airspace Solutions team is working with the FAA, international ATM agencies, and other aviation stakeholders to improve the world’s air traffic system.
Objectives are to make flying safer and more secure, increase capacity as air traffic levels rise, dramatically reduce congestion, delays, fuel burn, emissions, and keep aviation affordable and accessible for commercial, military, business and general aviation operators. Boeing is currently under contract with the FAA to help develop NextGen related concepts, as mentioned above.
Boeing is also in partnership with Airbus, Selex, and other European organisations to devise a new, streamlined air traffic management system for Europe under the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) program.
