Aircraft can be tracked when ground radar is available, but when over sea, the planes can essentially vanish for hours on end. In the absence of ground-based radar an automatic broadcast is sent via the aircrafts’ satcomm systems, the Automatic Dependence Surveillance Broadcast (ADSB). However, the ADSB systems have their flaws including the reliance on the aircrafts’ systems, for example when the aircraft has no power, the ADSB will not work.
Since the case of the missing MH370 flight, legislation on aircraft tracking has started to change – by 2018, all ADSB systems must report every 15 minutes, previously this was every 40 minutes and from 2021 all commercial aeroplanes need to be fitted with an independent tracking system.
SatAuth’s system does not rely on aircraft flight deck information input e.g. the aircrafts’ GPS and speed detection. The hardware takes independent readings and transmits them live to the ground, via the Iridium satellite network. The data is transmitted as events take place anywhere in the world so you can know what happened to the plane long before the black box is recovered.
Once the device has been plugged in onboard, it immediately starts broadcasting data via satellite and aircraft can be instantly monitored anywhere in the world by any portable device. The data is transferred through the Global Alerting Platform (GAP) and the GAP Portal is used as a visualisation software tool for tracking and monitoring the location of the planes. Anomalies such as flight path irregularities can be detected and the flight data broadcasting frequency can be changed automatically, adhering to autonomous distress tracking.
Richard Prodger, Technical Director at two10degrees
SatAuth’s system has already been installed on two South African Airlines’ commercial aircraft for testing. The installations have been approved by the South African Civil Aviation Authority as well as the EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency).
Janine Roux, Programme Director at SatAuth