Mode S Elementary Surveillance Operational at Maastricht UAC

Eurocontrol's Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (UAC) has deployed ELS (Mode S ("select") elementary surveillance) radar data for the cross-border upper airspace using data from three Mode S radars in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.

The new generation of radar surveillance technology began monitoring and validating the correct setting of the new aircraft identification in September 2006, which paved the way for its full operational use, Eurocontrol said.

Surveillance data from additional Mode S radars will be integrated in the course of 2007, Eurocontrol says, and will ultimately provide double Mode S coverage, and will lead to the operational downlinking of additional aircraft parameters.

While traditional radar stations interrogate all aircraft within their range, Mode S radars establish selective interrogations with aircraft within their coverage using ground-based interrogators and airborne transponders. Selective interrogation improves the quality and integrity of the aircraft detection, identification and altitude information, and creates higher-quality tracks on air traffic controller displays.

Mode S technology also helps overcome the radio frequency congestion problems experienced with conventional radars in high-density airspace, and reduces the risk of confusion or misidentification due to overlapping signals and can therefore support substantially higher air traffic levels.

Eurocontrol is managing the introduction of Mode S radar surveillance across the high-density airspace of Europe on behalf of the implementing states.  More details can be found at: www.eurocontrol.int/modes/.  05-13-2007.

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