ASPASIA (Aeronautical Surveillance and Planning by Advanced Satellite-Implemented Applications) is an international project co-funded by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006), led by Atos Origin and participated by the following organisations: AENA, AIRTEL, THALES ALENIA SPACE, BAE Systems, EuroTelematik, Indra, INECO, SKYSOFT, Sofréavia and University of Glasgow.

ASPASIA has an outstanding and well-defined objective in the framework of innovative surveillance and tactical applications:

‘ the investigation of new advanced Satellite Communications (SatCom) technology
as complementary ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast)/TIS-B (Traffic
Information Service – Broadcast) data link in the provision of surveillance applications.’

In particular, ASPASIA project will focus on the applications for which SatCom is:

• An appropriate means of transmitting data between aircraft, and between the aircraft and Air Traffic Control Centres at the rates and with the integrity needed for ASAS (Airborne Separation Assurance Systems) applications.



• A cost effective solution to the provision of Air Traffic Services in remote areas.
  On top of that, ASPASIA will consider the scenarios in which aircraft data obtained through ADS-B will allow the provision of ground applications.

Thanks to the global characteristics of SatCom, ASPASIA will play arole in the single European Sky initiative by introducing a system that makes accurate information available to all operators at all times. In the same way, the project will contribute to the implementation of the ATM 2000+ strategy by improving management methods and processes to synchronise the actions of all parties involved.