Azerbaijan to introduce satellite-based ADS-B for air traffic surveillance

:: Aireon

Azerbaijani air navigation and air traffic management service provider Azeraeronavigation (AZANS — Azerbaijan Air Navigation Services) has signed on October 18th for Aireon’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data for air traffic surveillance in its national airspace. The satellite-based system will complement ground surveillance equipment to provide coverage for Baku flight information region (FIR) at all altitudes.

The move is driven by “twofold increase in the number of transit flights handled by AZANS”, – the air navigation service provider explains, noting that the current traffic volume of 550 aircraft daily using Azerbaijan’s airspace is “much higher in comparison with pre-pandemic times.”

The implementation of the system is expected to help route optimization resulting in improved economy and environmental impact of routes in the airspace over Azerbaijan.

“The Aireon satellite-based air traffic surveillance system offers a solution that will radically optimize flight safety and efficiency and provide global flight tracking of airlines in real time. The introduction and full use of the system will provide surveillance of aircraft equipped with ADS-B, as well as allow for the selection of more convenient routes and altitudes,” comments Jahangir Asgarov, president of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) holding company largely responsible for the entire aviation system in the country. AZANS is a part of AZAL.

“AZANS has taken a major technological step forward by agreeing to implement Aireon space-based ADS-B surveillance data in their airspace. The data will give AZANS a complete view of Azerbaijan airspace, providing their controllers with state-of-the art capability to navigate aircraft efficiently, safely, and in the most environmentally friendly manner,” assures Don Thoma, Aireon CEO.

The airspace of Azerbaijan is 165,400 sq. km, 86,600 of which is over land and 78,800 sq. km is above the Caspian Sea. The length route network within the airspace of Azerbaijan Republic amounts to around 11,000 km.

Aireon, the first EASA-certified aerial surveillance service provider, is a partnership between satellite operator Iridium Communications and several national air navigation service providers – Nav Canada, UK’s NATS, Italy’s ENAV and Norway’s Naviair, as well as the Irish Aviation Authority. The core of Aireon’s technology is the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation, launched on a Space-X Falcon 9 between January 2017 and January 2019.