Aireon, FlightAware Team on Global Flight-tracking System
Product advertised to exceed GADSS requirements

(Story updated to identify Qatar Airways as launch customer)


Aireon and FlightAware on Wednesday announced a new partnership and the launch of a global flight-tracking system designed to ensure airlines can comply with Global Aeronautical Distress Safety System (GADSS) recommendations and requirements. Called GlobalBeacon, the system will provide minute-by-minute global tracking of Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft by 2018, when launch customer Qatar Airways begins using the service. Aireon has produced 81 ADS-B receivers now onboard Iridum’s NEXT constellation of satellites, currently staged for launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. 


GlobalBeacon will use a combination of data from Aireon’s space-based ADS-B aircraft surveillance network and FlightAware’s flight tracking web interface and worldwide flight tracking data—including origin, destination, flight plan route, position, and estimated time of arrival. According to the companies, the system will instantly equip airplanes to meet or exceed GADSS requirements and recommendations without the need for new avionics.


Announced by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in March of 2016, GADSS arose as a response to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. Its primary purpose lies with helping prevent the loss of commercial aircraft in distress over remote locations. The core of the GADSS recommendations and requirements stipulate that aircraft report their position to their airline operations center no less than once every 15 minutes. Should an aircraft become in distress, however, the requirements call for position reports every minute.


"GlobalBeacon was created to help solve an important problem that has bedeviled the aviation industry since commercial flight began, and together Aireon and FlightAware are proud to offer a true solution,” said Aireon CEO Don Thoma. “No other product can provide 100 percent global tracking, in real time, without the cost of additional avionics equipage. We’ve already seen significant interest from airlines in this solution, and you can expect to hear a big announcement on that front in the coming days.”


Along with aircraft location reporting, GADSS requires aircraft to provide immediate notification of abnormal events, regardless of air traffic control regions and without sacrificing baseline search and rescue services. According to its designers, GlobalBeacon will not require additional equipment and for airlines to create and implement new distress activation procedures in the cockpit and on the ground. Should an aircraft deviate from its intended flight path, experience severe turbulence or stop transmitting location, GlobalBeacon-equipped aircraft will automatically enter distressed status and immediately notify its airline operations center, which can take appropriate actions.


Aireon expects its space-based ADS-B service to become operational in 2018, shortly after the completion of the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation. The constellation will consist of 66 operational low-earth-orbit satellites providing 100 percent global coverage.