Aireon, a US-based provider of space-based automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) data, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The deal is for the Gulf state "to study the applications of Aireon's data for real-time surveillance, aviation safety, air navigation capacity and efficiency and aviation security, as well as in the promotion of aviation development, sustainability and innovation" and to set up a "framework for cooperation" between the two to "further examine the use of Aireon's extensive product portfolio, including AireonFLOW air traffic management product, GPS monitoring, Aireon Locate search and rescue tool and AireonINSIGHTS platform, among others".
Aireon said the deal includes looking at "opportunities for Aireon and GCAA to work together to identify requirements for integrating Aireon data into current and future GCAA tools".
"The Aireon data holds a great deal of potential to improve operational efficiency and safety for GCAA, and the Aireon team looks forward to demonstrating the power of space-based ADS-B data to them," said Don Thomas, Aireon's chief executive.
" We are confident that this partnership will help us identify areas to improve our services and enhance our capabilities," said Ahmed Al Jallaf, the GCAA's assistant director general ANS.