Aispace Magazine - Ed -Transforming Brazilian Airspace

SPOTLIGHT: BRAZIL

Transforming Brazilian airspace

Implementing ADS-B in the Campos Basin is a fundamental next step in DECEA’s plans, says Daniel Marinho.

Last year, more than 3.3 billion people travelled by air. According to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) passenger growth forecast study, this number is expected to more than double in the coming 20 years, reaching 7.3 billion.

To meet this seemingly endless increase in demand, the Brazilian ANSP, Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo (DECEA) has made several long-term investments, all designed to increase capacity and cope with a highly dynamic market.

Among the highlights of the report was the fact that Brazil would be handling 272 million passengers per year by this time, becoming the fifth biggest aviation market in the world.

One of them ready for take-off is a breakthrough as far as Brazilian air surveillance is concerned; the introduction of automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B).

Fundamental links With its enhanced capabilities and low cost, ADS-B aircraft surveillance technology is becoming an aviation industry standard.

Unilike radar, which works by bouncing radio waves from fixed terrestrial antennae to airborne targets and then interpreting the reflected signals, the aircraft itself uses conventional global navigation satellite system (GNSS)

How ADS-B works over oil platform areas offshore in Brazil.

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SPOTLIGHT: BRAZIL technology and a relatively simple broadcast communications link as its fundamental components.

In Brazil, ADS-B’s debut will take place over an oceanic region that has a large helicopter traffic flow to the offshore oil and gas platforms. The Campos Basin is not far from Rio de Janeiro and is home to the Brazilian Pre-salt Layer, a massive oil reserve area.

As helicopter operations that support oil exploration generally fly at low altitude, it is difficult for radar to pick them up. The service provided to these helicopters is therefore based on nonradar procedures, which significantly reduces air traffic capacity – especially for Instrumental Flight Rules (IFR).

“The use of ADS-B in the Campos Basin will enable the surveillance of aircraft flying at low altitude and will provide the best trajectories and flight profiles, meaning better air traffic management and security,” says DECEA Project Manager of Air Navigation Services Improvement (Ocean Areas), Lieutenant Marcelo Mello Fagundes.

Logistical efficiency The terrestrial infrastructure for ADS-B was implemented in August 2015.

It is made up of six stations (four on platforms, two on the mainland) and is integrated with the SAGITARIO System in Macaé Approach Control. Operational processes are being tested and certified, after which the service will be activated for suitable aircrafts. By 2017, all helicopters in the region should be properly equipped with ADS-B. Filipe Heringer, Flight Safety & Aviation Competence Manager at Petrobras –

Credit: Fábio Maciel

An ADS-B Out-capable aircraft derives its precise position from GNSS, combines that position with other flight data (speed, heading, altitude and flight number) and then simultaneously broadcasts the result to ground receivers linked to air traffic control centres. ADS-B accuracy does not seriously degrade with range, atmospheric conditions or target altitudes. Likewise, its systems and machinery are also simpler, cheaper and easier to maintain when compared with secondary radars.

Air Traffic Controller at Macaé Approach Control in Brazil.

the biggest oil company in Brazil – says ADS-B will allow an increase in aircraft density in the Campos Basin area, which will significantly contribute to the logistical efficiency of air transport services.

“In the case of air operations stopping due to adverse weather or other issues, ADS-B allows greater resilience of flight schedules to handle contingency measures, providing an increase in capacity to face extra demands,” he explains. “So, even with all the logistical gains, operational safety is our greatest benefit, especially considering that it is crucial to handle a large number of aircraft in the Campos Basin, most notably during peak times.”

ADS-B in the Campos Basin is just the start for Brazil, however. It is planned to phase in ADS-B over the entire Brazilian continental area, which covers a massive 8.5 million km2.

To make the implementation easier, ADS- B stations will use the existing infrastructure in radar and VHF sites. “The idea is to implement the land system over the coming years to provide surveillance based on ADS-B throughout the national airspace above 31,000 feet (FL 310)”, says DECEA Project Manager of Airspace Surveillance Improvement Lieutenant Colonel André Eduardo Jansen.

Many of the major airlines that serve Brazil already have a considerable number of aircraft equipped to handle

ADS-B requirements and will meet compliance standards set by the Brazilian civil aviation authority (ANAC – Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil). Those airlines and aircraft without ADS-B, including general aviation users, have some time to make the necessary investment. The mandatory use of ADS-B in continental Brazilian airspace is only predicted to take place from 2022 onwards, and only in airways above FL310.

Maintaining layers Even with the introduction of ADS-B, DECEA will keep its non-dependent surveillance layer since these radars would be immune to failures or abnormalities that may occur in positioning systems based on satellites.

That said, there is no going back regarding the adoption of ADS-B in Brazil.

The system improves safety, efficiency and environmental performance for pilots and air traffic controllers.

Director General of DECEA, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Carlos Vuyk de Aquino, points out that the implementation of the ADS-B system is one of the most important projects in Brazilian airspace in the years ahead.

“We are increasing the safety, capacity and efficiency of air traffic control, regardless of the route, height and position in which aircraft find themselves,” he notes.

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