Avanti leads pan-African aviation
project powered by satellite
technology
·
Avanti Communications has been
appointed by the UK Space Agency to
deliver a crucial air navigation
project in Africa, SBAS-AFRICA,
powered by satellite technology. The
leading satellite operator has been
awarded the contract under the
agency’s International
Partnership Space Programme (IPSP),
which exists to open up
opportunities for the UK space
sector to share expertise in
real-world satellite technology and
services overseas.
Africa has just 3% of global
air traffic, and yet air accidents
in Africa account for roughly 20% of
the worldwide total.[1]
By demonstrating potential
improvements in flight safety via
SBAS technologies, the project can
provide socio-economic benefits to
the continent.[2]
Based on prior cost-benefit
modelling[3]
which identified a €1.7bn potential
economic benefit to the African
aviation sector from the deployment
of SBAS services, SBAS-AFRICA will
help accelerate the adoption of
GNSS-based flight operations,
positively influence the evolution
of aviation safety in Africa and
encourage development in the wider
African economy.
SBAS-AFRICA will deliver a
satellite based augmentation system
for GNSS-based operations in the
aviation sector, serving significant
parts of Africa in partnership with
a number of local stakeholders.[4]
The project will use a unique asset,
Avanti’s ARTEMIS L1 Navigation
transponder, to provide a navigation
data broadcast service.
Matthew
O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer at
Avanti Communications, commented:
“SBAS-AFRICA
brings an innovative and pragmatic
approach to deploying SBAS services
in Africa. It establishes crucial
collaboration between the UK and a
number of African countries,
including South Africa and Ghana.
Participating countries will benefit
hugely from expertise gained,
placing them at the forefront of
navigation services across the
continent and, crucially, helping to
improve aviation safety for a major
generator of economic benefit in
Africa.”
He continued:
“The Artemis satellite will play an
integral role in this project. We
expect that such a showcase for its
performance, accuracy and quality
will provide further evidence of
what can be achieved with this
technology and lead to significant
commercial opportunities.”
Dr David
Parker, Chief Executive of the UK
Space Agency, said:
“The UK Space Agency is delighted to
play a role in fostering new
international partnerships that not
only enable innovative UK space
companies like Avanti to provide
more high-tech exports that can
boost our space sector but also
allow the UK to widely share the
considerable social and economic
benefits that space technology and
infrastructure can provide.”
