Airbus-Led Group Demonstrates New In-Trail Procedure During Flight

Airbus and its partners working on a project called CRISTAL ITP (in-trail procedure) that enables aircraft to more easily change altitudes in remote (non-radar) regions have demonstrated it for the first time while inflight.

The demonstration took place in late March using an Airbus A340 test aircraft, fitted with an Aviation Communication & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) traffic computer, and an SAS A330, in Icelandic oceanic airspace, where radar coverage was available for redundant safety.

During the test, the A340 pilot performed several altitude changes relative to the A330, using identification and position information of the SAS aircraft received via ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) signals depicted on his navigation display.

Airbus is currently certifying the new air-to-ground and air-to-air surveillance technology, which can save fuel, and thus reduce emissions, by allowing aircraft to fly at their optimal altitudes more readily.

In addition to Airbus and SAS, the other CRISTAL ITP partners are the ATSPs (air traffic service providers) of Iceland and U.K., ISAVIA and NATS, and Eurocontrol.  04-17-2008.

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