This article is based on an official press release from Thales Group and Aireon.

Thales and Aireon Launch Space-Based Air Traffic Flow Management Initiative in Asia-Pacific

Thales and Aireon have announced a strategic expansion of their partnership into the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, aiming to modernize air traffic flow management (ATFM) through the integration of space-based surveillance data. According to the joint announcement, the initiative combines Thales’s “TopSky-Flow” platform with Aireon’s global Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data to address the region’s rapid aviation growth and complex airspace challenges.

A central component of this partnership is the launch of a trial program designed for Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) and airlines within the APAC region. The companies stated that stakeholders will be offered free access to these integrated tools, allowing them to run “what-if” operational scenarios. This approach enables operators to evaluate how enhanced long-range visibility could mitigate specific operational bottlenecks without an immediate financial commitment.

Integrating Space-Based Data with Flow Management

The core of the announcement focuses on the technological integration of two distinct systems: Thales’s TopSky-Flow and AireonFLOW. While traditional ground-based radar and ADS-B stations are limited by line-of-sight, creating “blind spots” over oceans and remote terrain, Aireon’s system utilizes receivers hosted on the Iridium satellite constellation to provide 100% global coverage.

By feeding this real-time, space-based position data into the TopSky-Flow cloud-based platform, the partnership aims to provide ANSPs with a predictive view of air traffic demand hours in advance. This capability allows controllers to manage flows strategically rather than reactively.

Addressing Regional Infrastructure Gaps

The Asia-Pacific region presents unique challenges that this technology aims to address. According to industry data included in the report, the region hosts nine of the world’s top 10 busiest international air routes, such as Kuala Lumpur–Singapore and Hong Kong–Taipei. However, the airspace remains fragmented across numerous Flight Information Regions (FIRs) with varying levels of infrastructure.

Critical trade arteries like the South China Sea and complex airspaces such as the Singapore and Manila FIRs often lack comprehensive ground-based surveillance in their centers. The integration of space-based data is intended to eliminate these blind spots, ensuring continuous tracking for conflict avoidance and search and rescue operations.

Projected Operational Benefits

The partnership highlights several key metrics for success based on similar implementations of space-based ADS-B technology in other regions. Data from deployments by NATS in the UK and NAV CANADA suggests that enhanced surveillance can lead to significant sustainability and capacity improvements.

“NATS and NAV CANADA reported saving 45,000 tonnes of CO2 and £19 million in fuel costs annually after implementing space-based ADS-B.”

Industry research regarding North Atlantic implementations

Furthermore, “safety-grade” surveillance has previously allowed controllers in the North Atlantic to reduce separation distances between aircraft from approximately 40–80 nautical miles to 14–17 nautical miles. Thales and Aireon aim to replicate these efficiency gains in the APAC region, allowing for more optimal continuous descent profiles and reduced holding patterns.

AirPro News Analysis

The Shift to Virtual Infrastructure

We view this partnership as a significant indicator of the aviation industry’s shift from physical to virtual infrastructure. In a region facing a “capacity crunch,” building physical radar towers to cover vast oceanic expanses is neither cost-effective nor feasible. The move to integrate Aireon’s “safety-grade” data, which distinguishes it from competitors like Spire Global that utilize nano-satellites primarily for logistics, into the Thales ecosystem suggests a push toward higher-fidelity, certified data for critical air traffic control operations.

This collaboration also positions Thales competitively against other major ATFM providers like Metron Aviation. By embedding space-based data directly into the TopSky workflow, Thales is offering a solution that enhances resilience against ground-equipment failures, such as the technical outage that affected the Manila FIR in January 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main goal of the Thales and Aireon partnership in APAC?

The primary goal is to improve air traffic flow management, reduce congestion, and enhance cross-border collaboration by providing ANSPs with a comprehensive, long-range view of air traffic derived from space-based data.

How does space-based ADS-B differ from ground-based radar?

Ground-based radar is limited by line-of-sight and cannot track aircraft over oceans or remote areas. Space-based ADS-B, hosted on satellites, provides real-time global coverage, eliminating these blind spots.

What is the “what-if” trial program?

It is an initiative offering APAC airlines and ANSPs free access to the TopSky-Flow platform to test operational scenarios and demand predictions without a financial commitment.

Sources

• Thales Group