e-Conspicuity to increase visibility in Swiss airspace

Swiss airspace has to be shared by commercial aviation (scheduled and charter flights) and motorized aircraft, gliders, helicopters, and hang gliders used for general aviation. On top of that come parachutists. But that’s not enough. In a few years, unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) will also be added to this extensive list. To ensure the safety of all airspace users, these must be electronically visible, hence the technical term “e-conspicuity”. Given Switzerland’s topography, this is a difficult task.

Today, various technologies are used in aviation to make one’s own aircraft electronically visible to other airspace users. Unfortunately, these technologies are not all compatible with each other and therefore do not enable interoperability. In view of a safe, digital airspace, it is therefore necessary to rectify this situation and reduce the risk of mid-air collisions to a minimum.

Survey: Who uses which technology?
In October 2020, the FOCA launched a survey to determine the extent to which the various e-conspicuity technologies are currently used in general aviation in Switzerland. Around 1500 pilots responded to the survey, in particular to the question “Which devices do you use to report your position?” The FOCA would like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in the survey. The results provide some interesting insights: Overall, about 87% of respondents are equipped with a system that makes them electronically visible. For powered aircraft, helicopters or gliders, this percentage is over 95%.

Two out of three respondents who fly helicopters are even equipped with two technologies (Mode S transponder and FLARM).

This illustrates the clear intention of pilots to be visible to other airspace users. The results also show that the choice of technology varies depending on the category of aircraft: while the transponder remains the technology of choice for powered aviation, glider pilots are very well equipped with FLARM. Among paraglider pilots, on the other hand, FANET is very common. Given the heterogeneity of the various systems, the interoperability of these systems is becoming more important if a complete picture of current traffic in the airspace is to be displayed.

[1] FANET+ means a FANET device equipped with FLARM

[2] For example FANET (without FLARM) or SafeSky

Project FASST-CH: What does it mean?
In order to reduce the risk of airproxes in Swiss airspace, the FOCA has launched the project Future Aviation Surveillance Services and Technologies in Switzerland (FASST-CH). The aim is to develop a roadmap for the surveillance services of the future and the associated technologies. This should be done in line with the AVISTRAT-CH strategy and initiatives for 2035, thus creating the basis for the digitalization and optimization of Swiss airspace.

To this end, FASST-CH is working with Swiss aviation stakeholders. Together, a clear vision of future flight operations and the ecosystem needed to support them is to be developed according to the “see, sense and avoid” principle. In addition, synergies are to be achieved and coordination with international initiatives is to be promoted. To this end, the FASST-CH team regularly exchanges information with EASA and the authorities of various countries in Europe.

Further detailed information and project progress from FASST-CH are published on the website https://www.bazl.admin.ch/fasst-ch.