Air traffic control company NATS is exploring the possibility that TV signals could be used for tracking aircraft, following a proof of concept conducted in conjunction with Thales ATM and Roke Manor.
The two year trial was carried out primarily over London, with a Thales concept demonstrator using signals from the Crystal Palace transmitter. The results of the trials were then validated by Roke Manor. According to the partners, up to 30 aircraft were tracked at any one time at altitudes of up to 10,000ft. However, they add that more planes could have been tracked with the use of additional equipment.
The results of the trial show TV signals could allow air traffic controllers to maintain separation of three or five nautical miles.
Nick Young, NATS system engineer, said: "There are a number of technical and regulatory hurdles to overcome before this could be considered for operational use. Questions around resilience and service standards need to be answered and we'd need to explore formal agreements with the broadcasters, but this is very exciting and we'll be looking to further develop the concept over the next five years."
A second phase of the trial, conducted in Liverpool, showed that TV signals appeared to be less susceptible to interference from wind turbines than traditional radar.
