Iris with IOC – ANSP contributions, Phase 2

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an international  intergovernmental organization with 22 member states and is not part of the bodies of the European Union (EU).

Proposal name: BULATSA contribution to Iris validation

Financing Agreement: No. 4000133824/21/NL/SC

Timeframe: February 2021 – April 2024

Project description and objective:

The Iris project aims to develop an air-to-ground satellite communication Data Link Service (DLS) for ATM purposes that is expected to help overcome the limited capacity of the current service – VDL Mode 2. Iris is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and is part of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative.

The project was launched in 2007 and is being implemented through a public-private partnership led by Inmarsat (now Viasat).

The infrastructure used for the future satellite-based DLS service, Iris, is expected to have much greater capacity and higher speed, and to be a more cost-effective and more sustainable alternative to the current standard. Iris is planned to ease the load on radio frequencies (VHF Data Link Mode 2) and offer improved use of aircraft trajectory information, thereby optimizing routes. This could reduce ATCО interventions and facilitate conflict resolution. The technology will require appropriate corresponding equipment on board the aircraft.

Phase 1 of Iris Precursor was implemented between 2014 and 2018. Its aim was to demonstrate the feasibility of using Inmarsat’s existing satellite infrastructure (L-band) for ATМ services.

Between 2019 and 2024, BULATSA participated in Phase 2 of Iris.

Phase 2 involved testing the service in European airspace. European ANSPs and specially equipped aircraft validated the developed functionalities in a real operational environment.

Within the framework of the project, experts from BULATSA participated in the preparation and conduct of tests and validations with testing platforms and were involved in demonstrations with commercial aircraft. BULATSA’s team elaborated testing scenarios, safety assessments and additional operational and technical documentation in cooperation with Inmarsat, Eurocontrol, EASA, European ANSPs, and industry representatives such as Airbus, Thales, Honeywell, Cobham, easyJet, and others.

The aim was to prepare Iris service for Pan-European certification by ICAO and EASA, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the technology and accompanying procedures. The objective is for Iris to become the primary means of communication between air traffic controllers (ATCOs) and pilots via satellite-based data transmission by 2028.

BULATSA has successfully fulfilled its commitments to ESA and contributed to the Iris project by participating in flight demonstrations carried out with easyJet’s Airbus A320 aircraft and assisting in the optimization of the new technologies in the context of ATM procedures.

Phase 3 -Iris Global – is currently underway. Its goal is the operational implementation of the Iris service in European airspace with the potential for global expansion – harmonization with NextGen in the US and similar programs in Asia. Iris is already part of the SESAR Deployment Manager implementation roadmap.

BULATSA continues its cooperation with the Iris team.