Preliminary requirements for satellite based automatic dependent surveillance (ADS)

This paper discusses several key requirements pertinent to the use of satellite based automatic dependent surveillance (ADS) techniques in domestic U.S. airspace. The key requirements addressed in this paper are data latency and functional availability. As background, a brief description is presented of three methods of providing the aircraft surveillance function: primary radar, secondary radar, and ADS. A section on qualitative requirements discusses implications of coupling surveillance and navigation functions. A section on quantitative requirements provides detailed accounting of the current time latency budget to permit integration into the advanced automation system (AAS). The ADS application assumes the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) for the navigation component and satellite communication for the data link function