Indonesia Launches ADS-B Trial

December 29, 2006 // Published as a news service by IHS

During the trial, air traffic controllers will be able to view ADS-B traffic data displayed in the Jakarta and Makassar air traffic control (ATC) centers.

The goal is to demonstrate the enhanced surveillance capabilities ADS-B can provide along key air routes.

Indonesia's varied terrain and equatorial climate require a variety of surveillance technologies, including radars, satellite technology and ADS-B, be used to provide adequate coverage.

Aircraft equipped with ADS-B emit digital signals every half second, which identify an aircraft's position, height, speed and course. The information can be fed into a national air traffic control system to provide a radar-like picture of aircraft movements. ADS-B is said to be complementary to other forms of surveillance.

The trial involves the deployment of three Thales ADS-B ground receivers - at Denpasar in Bali, Kupang in Nusa Tenggara Timur and Natuna Island in the South China Sea. SITA communications links and surveillance processors link the Thales receivers to Indonesia's control centers in Jakarta and Makassar. For its part in the trial, Airservices provides project and technical support and a remote monitoring capability.

The Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) intends to evaluate the outcome of the trial to determine whether to roll out ADS-B nationwide based on the service model proposed by the Airservices/SITA ADS-B Alliance. The effectiveness of the system in enhancing surveillance across international flight information region boundaries will be taken into consideration during the decision-making process.

The decision to trial ADS-B follows a regional International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) recommendation adopted in 2003.

Source: SITA.