Inmarsat free global tracking ?
 

Inmarsat to provide free global airline tracking service - Inmarsat


Back in May 2014 , in the wake of the MH370 tragedy Inmarsat indicated that it was to start a free global tracking network for sat com equipped long haul.


I assume this would be L band from a/c to sat , C band from sat to ground station using Mode S idents and location info every 15 minutes , or less.


Was this ever implemented ?


There is plenty of L band ACARS traffic on Inmarsat , bit nothing as far as I can see relating to regular position updates.


Be interested to know if any airlines have adopted the new safety measure

The issue is grinding through ICAO - in the meantime, using the capabilities you suggest, this evaluation was reported last year.

It's coming, but don't hold your breath... Tracking is often more about ATC process and coordination.

Inmarsat concludes successful evaluation of oceanic flight tracking to meet ICAO?s new global standard - Inmarsat

FF

Many thanks for the reply FF


Yes I saw the initial report , but wondered if in the meantime any airlines were "volunteering"
to make 15 minute reports as a safety measure .


I assume that an auto ADS-B style report , containing location information is simply sent via the L band comms link to the satellite then down to the earth stations via C band , providing a regularly updated Oceanic tracking "log"


Obviously at this stage the data would not be used for "Oceanic ATC" purposes , but could help to avoid another MH370 scenario , as at worst
, on the basis that these pings were automated and could not be overridden, a flight would never be more than 15 mins from point of last contact.

Further to above , we are now monitoring the C band T channel data output on Inmarsat and seeing regular position reports coming down from satcom equipped a/c , similar to ACARS format .

Live Inmarsat 15west traffic GES43 one of four channels
 

Image above...


Near Global coverage from Inmarsat by just a handful of satellite receiving stations.
[Pink icons]

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1604/2...a13b254a_b.jpg
Our tracking system shows 137 a/c presently in the NATS.
Anyone know if there is there a maximum hourly traffic flow rate?

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