Aireon
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 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | , USA |
| Products | Air Traffic Control Data, GlobalBeacon, and Aireon Alert |
| Services | Space-Based ADS-B |
| Website | aireon.com |
Aireon is an American company based in McLean, Virginia. Founded in 2011, it manufactures, deploys, and operates a global aircraft tracking and surveillance system[1] utilizing satellite-based receivers to monitor the existing ADS-B transmissions of aircraft, for global air traffic surveillance.[2][3][4]
Aireon was launched in 2011 as a joint venture between satellite communications company Iridium Communications Inc, Nav Canada, NATS,[5] ENAV,[6] Naviair[7] and the Irish Aviation Authority to work on a surveillance system to track aircraft around the globe, beyond the range of ground-based radar and ADS-B receivers, in real time.[8][9][10] Nav Canada invested $150 million to acquire a 51% stake in the project.[11][12][13]
In September 2016, Aireon launched a partnership with FlightAware to provide space-based ADS-B to airlines and other aircraft operators with Qatar Airways as the launch customer.
In January 2017, Aireon launched and deployed its first ADS-B payloads on Iridium NEXT satellites. Seven launches followed the first launch.[14][15] The eighth and final launch in January 2019 completed the satellite 'constellation' and put the total in-orbit Aireon payloads at 75 (66 operational payloads and 9 spares). [16][17][18][19][20]
National ANSPs including Nav Canada, UK NATS, ENAV, IAA, AAI, Naviair, Isavia, CAAS of Singapore, ATNS of South Africa, DC-ANSP, ASECNA, Seychelles (SCAA), COCESNA Honduras and PNG of Papua New Guinea have signed a Data Services Agreement with Aireon.[21][22][23][24]