Global navigation satellite system in an integrated air traffic management constellation

Enhanced surveillance, communications and navigation are the primary functions needed for an advanced air traffic management (ATM). To provide ATM globally, including areas not covered by terrestrial systems, the advantages of satellite technology must be exploited. In a previous work, a novel architecture based on low-elevation elevation orbit satellites was described and evaluated. The satellite constellation is designed to supply the surveillance and data link capabilities equivalent to an advanced secondary surveillance radar mode S, as well as to provide satellite communication and navigation functions. Such a co-operative independent surveillance integrating navigation and communication (CISINC) is fully compliant with the communication, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management concept endorsed by the ICAO in 1991. The space-based implementation of CISINC is called ATM-Star. The paper treats the navigation component of ATM-Star called GNSS-LEO, which is compatible with today´s GPS receivers and aims to be a solution for the global navigation satellite system phase 2