Acron Aviation

Improving airspace and runway safety with surveillance technology

ACSS (an Acron Aviation and Thales joint venture) offers SafeRoute+, a suite of selectable ADS-B In applications that reduce the risk of runway incursions, enable more efficient enroute and arrival operations, increase airspace capacity and provide flight crews with increased situational awareness for safer flight.

Recent challenges highlight the need for additional tools

The SafeRoute+ ADS-B In system creates an environment of shared traffic situational awareness between pilots and air traffic controllers, giving pilots a precise forward field of view of surrounding aircraft using a Cockpit Display of Traffic Information (CDTI).

Successful trial

SafeRoute+ shown to stabilize spacing, reducing overtakes and go-arounds during FAA trial. New information in the flight deck offers another line of defense in the accident chain.

Leading the way with American Airlines

Following the FAA’s successful ADS-B In Retrofit Spacing (AIRS) operational evaluation, and the subsequent decision by American Airlines to expand equipage of the SafeRoute+ system across their fleet, Acron Aviation, through it's ACSS business, continue to lead the way in advancing air traffic management solutions. Under the 2-year AIRS Program, ADS-B In benefits were evaluated during large-scale, revenue service operations. The resulting benefit reports confirm the business case for ADS-B In, while illustrating clear safety enhancements provided by this exciting technology.

Objectives:

Evaluate flight crew and controller acceptance of the operation
Evaluate the use of a retrofit ADS-B Guidance Display for displaying ADS-B In guidance in forward field of view
Determine better guidance on phraseology and procedures for future NAS-wide implementations
Gather real-world experience to validate future Air Traffic Control (ATC) automation requirements
Evaluate and confirm operational benefit assumptions, in real-world conditions
Accelerate the development and deployment of ADS-B In technology

Results

The AIRS evaluation demonstrated the ability of ADS-B In technology to increase airspace capacity, reduce fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and improve efficiency during enroute and hub operations. All while increasing safety. Interval Management (IM) operations showed dramatic improvement in spacing precision over existing tools, while supporting both time and distance-based metering. CAVS and CAS operations demonstrated significant reduction in arrival spacing, even in reduced visibility conditions.

Better accuracy, better predictability, better piloting.

American Airlines: “These reductions in time and distance between aircraft arrivals can simply be attributed to the fact that when pilots are given better information, they make better decisions”.

Read full FAA report

Saves fuel

During the first year of the trial, American Airlines’ savings at DFW alone amounted to 490,000 lbs of fuel and a reduction of 700 metric tons of CO2 production.

Maximizes runway throughput

Airport ATC facilities that supported CAVS and CAS operations were able to improve runway throughput. Pilot designation of preceding traffic allowed precise monitoring of traffic spacing and closure rate. Reduction in inter-arrival time at the runway threshold equated to 4-5 additional landings per hour, per runway.

Increases airspace capacity

Enroute ATC facilities that supported IM operations realized increased airspace capacity with less “managing” of individual aircraft. Increased accuracy at the metering points means less vectoring, less fuel burn, less flight time variation.

Enhances safety

Pilots reported clear improvement in situational awareness and, therefore, safety. Results showed more stabilized spacing with reduction in overtakes and go-arounds.

Speak to our Surveillance team to learn more

About ACSS

Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) is a joint venture between Acron Aviation and Thales. ACSS designs and manufactures products for all aircraft and helicopter segments, and supports products for air transport and regional airlines, business aviation, and helicopter, general aviation, manned and unmanned military aircraft operators. ACSS produces avionics systems that increase safety, situational awareness, and efficiency for commercial and military flight operators.

Our Surveillance products