GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Boeing has been granted a licence to use part of the 2GHz mobile satellite services frequency spectrum for its planned air traffic management (ATM) system. Licensing by the US Federal Communication Commission (FCC) removes a "major hurdle" to the company's plans to implement a satellite-based ATM system to increase US airspace capacity.
The licence allows Boeing to build the medium-earth-orbit constellation of communications satellites critical to the common information network that is the backbone of the company's proposed architecture. The satellite-based network will share communication, navigation and surveillance data in real time between airspace users and controllers. The company has offered the satellite-based system as an alternative to recent FAA proposals on ATM.
In Boeing's concept, aircraft trajectory data from the onboard flight management system will be shared via satellite with ground controllers and used to recognise and resolve flightpath conflicts earlier than at present. This will allow separation between aircraft to be reduced, and increase airspace capacity, the company believes.
Acknowledging the "significant investment" required to deploy a constellation of satellites, Boeing Air Traffic Management president John Hayhurst, testifying to Congress on 19 July, said: "Boeing is willing to make the upfront investment in this infrastructure if a business model can be created enabling a reasonable return."
Hayhurst urged Congress and the Bush Administration to "take an interest in potential new public/private partnerships to reduce risks and speed implementation of new capacity enhancement".
Boeing is one of eight companies licensed by the FCC to provide mobile voice, data, internet and other new geostationary and non-geostationary satellite communications services using the 2GHz band. The others are: Celsat America, Globalstar, ICO Services, Iridium, Mobile Communications and TMI Communications. Initially each has been allocated a 3.5MHz segment of both the 1,990-2,025MHz and 2,165-2,200MHz bands. "This amount of spectrum allows licensees to move forward and implement their systems," says the FCC.
Source: Flight International
