Ensure electronic visibility
The Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) wants to establish a fully networked airspace by 2035. To this end, the FOCA is calling on owners and pilots to ensure the electronic visibility of their aircraft. A list of recommended technologies has been published for this purpose.
Since the early days of aviation, the principle of "see and avoid" has applied: see other airspace users and avoid them. Several technologies have been introduced to support pilots in this task, but they do not interact with each other. Although most airspace users in Switzerland have at least one of these technologies, the lack of interoperability poses a safety risk.
FASST-CH vision and goals
The FASST-CH (Future Aviation Surveillance Services and Technologies in Switzerland) project was launched in 2023 to address this issue in a holistic context. The vision developed together with Swiss and international interest groups is to develop a networked airspace in which pilots can access traffic and weather data as well as airspace status in real time. This is to be implemented by 2035.
Realization by 2028
The planned airspace will be based on an "i-conspicuity ecosystem", which is to be implemented by 2028. A corresponding ground infrastructure will ensure the interoperability of technologies in the air and thus complete visibility of current air traffic.
Equip aircraft now
After carefully examining the situation in Switzerland, ongoing initiatives in Europe and technological developments on the market, the project team has come to the conclusion that the interoperability of technologies can be achieved with the introduction of a minimum level of open standards. This requires software updates to existing devices or the installation of new devices; the ecosystem is supplemented by the further dissemination of data via the networked ground infrastructure.
Recommendation of technologies
The FOCA publishes a Recommendationto determine which technologies are most suitable for the relevant aircraft category. The Mode S transponder, which is mandatory for certain airspace users, is only one of the available options. Owners and pilots are requested to equip their aircraft in accordance with the technology recommendation. By taking this step, they are making an important contribution to the desired i-conspicuity ecosystem and increasing safety in the airspace. Financial support for equipping aircraft can be applied for via special financing for air traffic (BV87). This provides for measures to increase flight safety.
Support for alternative solutions to Mode S transponders
The "Future Aviation Surveillance Services and Technologies in Switzerland" (FASST-CH) project was launched to describe the future of surveillance services (SUR) in the form of a roadmap and to identify supporting technologies that are in line with the AVISTRAT-CH strategy and the 2035 initiatives. FASST-CH also supports alternative solutions to Mode S transponders to ensure mandatory electronic visibility in Class E airspace.