McLean, Virginia-based Aireon passed a never-before-achieved milestone last week when the company's satellite-based ADS-B receiver system was certified by the European unio Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) as an official Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP). That means Aireon can now provide Air Traffic Management (ATM)/Air Navigation Service (ANS) surveillance services to support the separation of aircraft. The certification represents three long years of collaboration between Aireon and EASA.

Manfred Dieroff, EASA’s ATM/ANS Standards, Implementation and Oversight Section Manager said, “EASA performed a series of audits that addressed compliance with the EU Regulation applicable to ATM/ANS Surveillance services, including among others management processes, system development and verification, software assurance, operational processes, service monitoring and technical support.”

In partnership with leading ANSPs from around the world, like NAV CANADA, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), Enav, NATS and Naviair, as well as Iridium Communications, Aireon is providing a global, real-time, space-based air traffic surveillance system.