Aireon is a company that provides global, space-based air traffic surveillance and data services for the aviation industry. It utilizes a network of ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) receivers hosted on the Iridium satellite constellation to track aircraft worldwide. Aireon's primary customers include Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) like NAV CANADA, NATS, ENAV, and airlines, offering improved safety, efficiency, and environmental benefits through optimized airspace management. Key partners include Iridium Communications, Airbus, Boeing and Cirium.
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ATNS will support Aireon’s objective of expanding use of ADS-B data to other countries in the region.
All satellites in Iridium’s upgraded constellation were built by Thales Alenia Space and carry the Aireon hosted payload.
Alan Khalili helped found Aireon, which leveraged hosted payloads to provide a global air traffic surveillance system.
Isavia ANS implemented Aireon’s space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) system in its 5.4 million square kilometers of controlled airspace.
Aireon’s implementation team worked around the clock with Isavia ANS operational staff during the global pandemic to complete the system acceptance phase and transition to operational real-time air traffic capabilities.
The Aireon system went live in 2018 and uses space-based ADS-B to provide global real-time air traffic surveillance.
Peraton supports roughly 150 to 200 hosted payloads on the Iridium Next constellation, including 75 Aireon aircraft-tracking payloads.
The FAA contacted Aireon on the day of the 2019-03-10 Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crash and Aireon provided requested data to the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board.
NATS can trial reducing separation distance from 40 nautical miles to 14 nautical miles using Aireon’s service.
NATS estimates that the operational changes enabled by Aireon’s service will generate $300 in fuel savings and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by two tons per flight.
Aireon borrowed $200,000,000 in December through a Deutsche Bank-led group of investor funds and used those funds to start paying Iridium overdue fees for hosting its sensor network.
NAV Canada is testing Aireon flight tracking in Alberta and other areas with ground-based radars and plans further service expansion.
Aireon has raised $351,000,000 to date, including $69,000,000 from NATS and $150,000,000 from NAV Canada.
Iridium borrowed $360,000,000 last year to pay down its debt without depending on Aireon payments.
Iridium applied the $35,000,000 it received from Aireon directly to the $1,800,000,000 Iridium borrowed from the French export-credit agency Coface (now BPI France Assurance Export) to help finance Iridium Next.
Aireon is borrowing $200,000,000 through a Deutsche Bank-led group of investor funds.
Aireon used part of the new funds to pay satellite operator Iridium $35,000,000 before the end of 2018 for hosting its sensor payloads on the Iridium Next constellation.
Aireon fell behind on making the $200,000,000 in hosting payments it owes Iridium.
Aireon signed the credit facility on 2018-12-21.
Aireon expects to pay off its hosting fee by the end of 2021 and had raised $351,000,000 prior to the Deutsche Bank-led loan.