France joins Europe’s Iris satellite data link program

French air navigation service provider DSNA has joined a consortium of European ANSPs participating in the Iris satellite-based data link program, Inmarsat announced Aug. 14. Developed by a public-private partnership of Inmarsat and the European Space Agency, Iris will be a text-based data link between pilots and controllers using Inmarsat’s Swiftbroadband-Safety service over L-band satellites. The capability will relieve existing VHF Digital Link Mode 2 radio congestion in Europe and support more efficient “4D” aircraft trajectories, adding a time element to the dimensions of latitude, longitude and altitude for more precise flight tracking and management. Following the conclusion of a five-year research program, Iris entered the commercial implementation phase in March. Full commercial service is scheduled to begin in 2021-22. As part of its involvement in the program, DSNA has agreed to capture performance data from pilot flight demonstrations. <br/>