Press Release: Pre-registration open for Aireon’s free tracking service

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Aireon and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) announced today that Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), Aircraft Operators, Regulators and Search and Rescue Organizations can now pre-register for their free, global Aircraft Locating and Emergency Response Tracking (ALERT) service.

The Aireon ALERT service will provide the last known position of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)-equipped aircraft that is in an apparent distress state or experiencing a loss in communication.  The service is only available to aviation stakeholders and offers precise position reports, free of charge.  The Aireon ALERT system is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2019 and will operated out of the IAA North Atlantic Communications Centre in Ballygirreen, County Clare, Ireland.

Enabled by Aireon’s unique space-based ADS-B service, Aireon ALERT will fill a critical need within the aviation industry. For the first time, ANSPs, Aircraft Operators, Regulators and Search and Rescue organizations will have access, on request, to exact position data for an aircraft in distress over the oceans, remote areas and anywhere else they may need aircraft position information in an emergency.

“We are proud to host and operate the world’s first truly global aircraft locating and emergency response tracking facility, based on the AireonSM system’s capabilities,” said Peter Kearney, Chief Executive Officer of the IAA. “Our facility will be providing Aireon ALERT services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  As long as an aircraft is broadcasting on 1090 MHz ADS-B, we will be able to locate it anywhere worldwide. This is a unique and secure cloud-based service, designed to the highest data protection standards.”

“Aireon is proud to support a much-needed solution to the aviation industry,” said Don Thoma, CEO of Aireon. “For the first time, the Aireon ALERT service will deliver the most precise location data for emergency and distress situations over the oceans and remote areas, typically void of ground-based infrastructure.  We recognize that our system has unique capabilities, and with that comes a responsibility to help prevent future tragedies.”

Users of the service do not need to be customers of either Aireon or the IAA to use the service; they simply need to be registered. Once a stakeholder has registered and been approved for Aireon ALERT, should an emergency arise, it can contact the 24/7/365 operations facility to obtain the last known position of its aircraft. This will include a map of the last 15 minutes of flight, with one plot per minute and a 4-dimensional report including altitude, latitude, longitude and time information. Based on the situation, additional tracking information may also be provided.  Aireon ALERT will be provided as a public service, free of charge to registered stakeholders.

Illustration at top courtesy of Aireon LLC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wpBAuq1bNM

To pre-register for Aireon ALERT, ANSPs, Aircraft Operators, Regulators and Search and Rescue Organizations should visit www.aireonalert.com.

For additional information about Aireon ALERT, please visit www.aireonalert.com

For more information about Aireon, please visit www.aireon.com.

For more information on the Irish Aviation Authority, please visit www.iaa.ie

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About the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is a commercial semi-state company. The IAA has three main functions: the provision of air traffic management and related services in Irish controlled airspace, the safety regulation of the civil aviation industry in Ireland and the oversight of civil aviation security in Ireland. The IAA is a founding partner of Aireon and hosts the Aireon ALERT service at its North Atlantic Communications Centre in Ballygirreen, County Clare, Ireland. For more information about the IAA, visit: www.iaa.ie.

About Aireon LLC

Aireon is deploying a space-based air traffic surveillance system for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipped aircraft throughout the entire globe. Aireon will harness next-generation aviation surveillance technologies that are currently ground-based and, for the first time ever, extend their reach globally to significantly improve efficiency, enhance safety, reduce emissions and provide cost savings benefits to all stakeholders. Real-time ADS-B surveillance will cover oceanic, polar and remote regions, as well as augment existing ground-based systems that are limited to terrestrial airspace. In partnership with leading Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) from around the world, like NAV CANADA, ENAV, NATS and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon will have an operational, global, space-based air traffic surveillance system in 2018. For more information, please visit www.aireon.com.

About Aireon ALERT

Aireon ALERT will be the only free service providing global coverage and GPS location and real-time tracking data to assist rescue coordination centers in emergency situations. Through a 24/7 communications facility, operated by the IAA at its North Atlantic Communications Centre in Ballygirreen, County Clare, Ireland, Aireon ALERT will make it possible to precisely query the location and flight track of any ADS-B equipped aircraft flying in distress.