Tracking aircraft in remote, disconnected areas as accurately as possible is critical for maintaining security and optimizing operations. To solve this challenge, Aistech Space seamlessly combines data from space and ground-based receivers to better track aircraft even in areas without connectivity by using its constellation of IoT- and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-enabled small satellites. In the following sections, we provide examples of how our technology can better track aircraft than traditional methods.
TRACKING AIRCRAFT IN NON-COVERED AREAS
Companies tend to use ground-based ADS-B receivers, which have a restricted performance due to the Earth curvature. In the next example, we will show you the difference between the ADS-B ground receivers with the estimated flight route and the space-based ADS-B.
Companies tracking aircraft tend to use ground-based ADS-B receivers, which have restricted performance due to the Earth’s curvature. Below, we will show you the difference between estimating flight paths with ADS-B ground receivers only, versus incorporating space-based ADS-B data for a more complete and accurate picture.
Let’s take flight EK226, traveling from San Francisco to Dubai, as a first example. The latest position tracked by ground-based ADS-B receivers was in the North of Canada (Great Bear Lake) at 3:51 UTC. By the time this image was taken from the data aggregator website, it was already 8:38 UTC. So, there is no information available about the flight’s position between those hours. The fact is that the real EK226 flight position at 8:38 UTC was at Severny Island.
The estimated flight route of the aircraft was the following dotted line.
DETERMINING THE ERROR OF ESTIMATED FLIGHT ROUTES
The estimated flight route, as its name suggests, is an approximation of the real flight route. Nevertheless, it has an error rate that can be crucial in case of an accident.
Our satellites demonstrate the actual difference between a real flight path and the estimated one. In a second example, flight ACA45 flying from Delhi to Vancouver was tracked by our satellite at 8:38 UTC in Zelmya Georga. The estimated position was 300 km away from the actual location of the aircraft.
In both examples, we can see how Aistech Space can improve tracking the aircraft in remote areas. This is especially crucial in:
- Zones where the installation of antennas and radars is not possible or too costly.
- Areas with no connectivity.
- Cases where there is a significant difference between the aircraft’s real position and its estimated flight path.
These scenarios are dangerous in case of an emergency and can make a crucial difference for a rescue mission.
Aistech Space is proud to contribute to a solution and will continue expanding its constellation of small satellites to help companies improve aircraft tracking all around the world in near real-time.
