Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast implementation is gathering pace in the Asia-Pacific region, with Airports Fiji releasing a registration of interest for the provision of ADS-B for the country's airspace and Australia seeking to expand its existing ADS-B project to demonstrate applications other than surveillance.
Fiji has been looking at ADS-B technology for many years, but the programme has been delayed for a number of reasons, including the country's December 2006 coup and management changes at Airports Fiji.
The government-owned company is seeking expressions of interest from companies to provide a network of ADS-B ground stations and connections to the air traffic management centre at Nadi to provide surveillance capability throughout Fiji and in the Nadi flight information region.
Suppliers will be required to provide a safety case provide training material and conduct training of personnel brief pilots and regulatory staff support the preparation of legislation and standards select ground station sites and conduct acceptance design coverage for Fiji's domestic airspace and the Nadi flight information region and provide ADS-B system support costs for 10 years of operation. The successful applicant will also be required to supply ADS-B equipment for the 35-strong domestic aircraft fleet, says Airports Fiji.
Meanwhile, Airservices Australia has released a request for expressions of interest for the demonstration of ADS-B applications. The request is part of the air traffic service provider's efforts to show the benefits of ADS-B to the Australian aviation community ahead of any moves to implement the technology below flight level 300 (30,000ft/9,100m). Australia is already installing ADS-B ground stations throughout the country as part of a programme to offer ADS-B-based surveillance above FL300. The service provider had been hoping to extend the programme below FL300, but not all parts of the industry supported this.
Airservices hopes such a demonstration could accelerate the uptake of ADS-B avionics in the regional and general aviation sectors. More than 400 airliners operating in Australia are already approved to use ADS-B-based air traffic services.
For the demonstration, Airservices is looking to equip up to 200 regional and GA aircraft with different types of avionics at three locations in Australia for two years from next February. It says the demonstrations will include airborne ADS-B-based traffic displays, ground-based tracking and monitoring, efficiency improvements for instrument flight rule operations through surveillance-based air traffic services, and local traffic advisory services.
Source: Flight International
