Avionics
“The flying public was
misled to think that
their location was
known at all times”
BUILT IN DISTRESS TRACKING
Canadian avionics supplier Flhyt supplies tracking and
monitoring technology to airlines and has expanded the
functionality of its main solution, AFIRS (automated
flight information reporting system) to cover ADT.
AFIRS, which includes a component that is installed on
the aircraft itself, can track multiple aircraft in multiple
locations. The company also supplies the AirMap
product a data streaming tool that is used in airline
operations centres.
Matt De Ris, product manager at Flyht says, “AFIRS
can deliver the requirements of GADSS. The 2021
mandate is for new aircraft types. Aircraft manufacturers
have mostly made their technology decisions for that, so
we are focused on the retrofit market.”
Flyht has two customers capable of what De Ris calls
abnormal tracking. “We haven’t activated the specific
algorithms for ADT for most of our units because it is a
little complex,” he says.
“But when a customer wants it, we can facilitate it
with a push of a button.”
AFRIS is having the capability of using terrestrial
ADS-B added to it, which De Ris says will also enable it
to more than meets the GADSS requirements. AFIRS is
also being line-fitted onto new A330, A320 and A220
aircraft to provide safety data and voice capabilities, he
adds Ris, so there is a fleet of around 2000 aircraft that
could potentially be configured by the company to meet
the GADDS requirements.
De Ris says, “Why would you want to install extra
equipment if you already have AFIRS installed on
your aircraft and you could achieve the
requirements of ADT with the push of a button?”
6 // The Kannad-Ultima
distress tracking emergency
locator transmitter was
developed in direct
response to the tragic
Air France and Malaysia
Airlines incidents
40 MARCH \\ AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM
DELAYED INTRODUCTION
None of the ADT systems mentioned previously are in
service yet. The ICAO deadline for new aircraft to be
fitted with ADT is expected to come into force on
January 2021, but it is not a legislative requirement and
the exact timescales for its introduction can be decided
by different nations. As a consequence, deadlines are
slipping. According to Belleux, the European
introduction of ADT is likely to slip to 2023. “It is
becoming delayed because it is a very different system
compared to the previous generation of ELTs. The
standards the working group are defining about the
ELT’s architecture, the European Technical Standard
Order, is not yet published and it is 2020. The aircraft
OEMs cannot be ready to integrate this year.”
Copsas Sarsat, the global satellite constellation which
is used for many ELTs, also needs to upgrade its
infrastructure before autonomous distress tracking can
be introduced. “The ground stations that will receive the
new message protocols need to be updated,” says Belleux.
In the USA there is no mandatory plan for ADT’s
introduction, but aircraft that fly over Europe will need
to be equipped regardless. Meanwhile, companies such as
Orolia, BSN and Flyht are talking to airlines about fitting
the ELT and preparations are being made for its
introduction. But, the size of the market has to be
rationalized. There are 15,000 aircraft over 27,000 kg
that GADSS applies to. A lot of those aircraft will only
ever fly over the American continent and never see the
sea, so there is no need for them to carry
ADT equipment.
However, for airliners traveling over
sea, ADT is required to meet the ICAO
regulations and Demury is confident the
measures being taken by industry will
make aviation safer. He says, “ADT is
important because for many years the
flying public was misled to think that
their location was known at all times,
mainly because of the moving map on the
back of seats.
“With this system, airlines will take
responsible action that will ultimately
save lives. The technology is available at a
very affordable price.”
Belleux says, “There will still be
incidents, but we will not have problems
finding the aircraft in the future thanks
to this technology.” \\
7 // Messages of hope and
prayers at a bookstore in
Malaysia shortly after Flight
MH370 disappeared
7
/AEROSPACETESTINGINTERNATIONAL.COM