. 24/7 Space News .
AEROSPACE
ESA acts to make air travel greener
by Staff Writers
Paris (ESA) Oct 28, 2021

Iris: programme for satellite communications for air traffic management

A new agreement signed between Inmarsat and the European Satellite Services Provider, which represents air traffic controllers from seven European countries, will enable final tests of the space-based system to be conducted and evaluated. It is expected to be introduced across Europe by 2023.

ESA has worked with Inmarsat to develop a space-enabled digital alternative to traditional air traffic control that enables pilots to take more efficient trajectories, saving fuel and cutting carbon emissions.

The system - called Iris - uses satellites to exchange data with aircraft, supplementing the terrestrial communications system with digital position reports, clearances and runway conditions, sent via telecommunications satellites between cockpits and air traffic control centres.

Flight plans can be continually updated during the flight to maintain an optimal trajectory towards the destination, minimising the fuel burned and the carbon dioxide emitted.

Iris was first tested on planes flying over Europe in 2018 and debuted in the US on a new Boeing 737-9 operated by Alaska Airlines earlier this year.

Today's agreement is between Inmarsat and the European Satellite Services Provider, a company founded by seven air navigation service providers from France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK to operate and provide services for a satellite-based navigation system managed by the European Commission called the European Geostationary Navigation Overlay Service.

It aims to manage final testing and certification - which includes certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency ahead of commercial rollout across Europe. The agreement was signed today at the World Air Traffic Management Congress in Madrid.

Iris will implement its improvements under the European Commission's single European sky air traffic management research programme, which promises to boost efficiency, capacity and performance of air traffic management worldwide.

John Broughton, Senior Vice President of Aircraft Operations and Safety Services at Inmarsat, said: "There is monumental support within the aviation industry for modernising air traffic management. The benefits for airlines and passengers are vast, from faster and more efficient flight routes with less delays, to improvements in environment efficiencies, including less fuel usage and carbon dioxide emissions."

Charlotte Neyret, Chief Executive Officer of the European Satellite Services Provider, said: "The Iris programme is a game-changer for the aviation industry, providing the most advanced new technology to complement datalink communications and meet the challenge of digital, greener and sustainable air travel. The ESSP has been working on this important programme with Inmarsat and ESA for several years and we are proud to now expand our involvement. We will provide the full range of ESSP's expertise in implementing and operating mission-critical services to ensure that Iris will offer the highest quality of service to all aviation stakeholders."

Elodie Viau, Director of Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA, said: "ESA is proud to work with Inmarsat and the European Satellite Services Provider to digitalise air space and reduce the environmental impact of flying, while simultaneously improving the efficiency of the aviation industry. The digitalisation of our skies will lead to a greener environment, a better passenger experience, and a more competitive European economy."


Related Links
Telecommunications and Integrated Applications at ESA
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


AEROSPACE
Fuel cells for air transport ground breaking ceremony for the BALIS test field in Empfingen
Empfingen, Germany (SPX) Oct 28, 2021
The German Aerospace Center is constructing a globally unique test field on the Empfingen Innovation Campus in the northern Black Forest to develop and test fuel cell propulsion systems for various modes of transport, including aircraft. The ground-breaking ceremony for the new test field took place on 6 October 2021, with representatives from government, administrative bodies and industry in attendance. b>New generation of fuel cell systems to enable zero-emission takeoff br> /b> The BALIS proj ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

AEROSPACE
Making space travel inclusive for all

Russia will fly four tourists into space in 2024

Could Russia's Zeus TEM be a gamechanger for India's space ambitions

New roles, combined offices for NASA Administrator Leadership Team

AEROSPACE
NASA seeks input to position mega-rocket for long-term exploration

Crew-3 astronauts launch to Space Station alongside microgravity research

NASA, SpaceX reschedule Crew-3 launch due to weather

NASA sending four astronauts to ISS on Sunday

AEROSPACE
You can help train NASA's rovers to better explore Mars

Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Flight 14 Successful

NASA Mars Rover and Helicopter models to go on national tour

China's Mars orbiter resumes communications with Earth

AEROSPACE
Chinese astronauts arrive at space station for longest mission

China's longest-yet crewed space mission impressive, expert says

Chinese astronaut bridges gender gap

Test conducted to verify spacecraft technology, FM says

AEROSPACE
Geraldine Naja, Director of Commercialisation, Industry and Procurement

NEOM Tech and Digital Holding Company and OneWeb sign $200m JV for satellite network

Amazon to launch two Project Kuiper satellites next fall

Verizon to use Amazon satellites for broadband Internet in rural areas

AEROSPACE
Bio-inspired autonomous materials

AiRANACULUS awarded Phase II NASA contract for Advanced Space Communications System

Shape-shifting materials with infinite possibilities

Smart material switches between heating and cooling in minutes

AEROSPACE
Breakthrough Listen releases analysis of previously detected signal

Scientists measure the atmosphere of a planet 340 light-years away

The upside-down orbits of a multi-planetary system

Searching for Earth 2 zoom in on a star

AEROSPACE
Science results offer first 3D view of Jupiter's atmosphere

Jupiter's Great Red Spot is deeper than thought, shaped like lens

Using Charon-light Researchers Capture Pluto's Dark Side

Juno peers deep into Jupiter's colorful belts and zones









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.