Over the oceans

Trans-oceanic air traffic management matures

The airspace over the Pacific Ocean is an area seeing rapid technological enhancement enabling aircraft to operate on preferred routes at desired altitudes to achieve significant operational efficiencies. ADS-B (In) performance trials in oceanic airspace are leading the development of new operating practices and are opening the way for further developments within high-density domestic airspace.

Flights across the Pacific Ocean between Australia or New Zealand and North America historically have involved aircraft flying on fixed routes with restricted aircraft navigation performance. From an air traffic control perspective, apart from areas close to these countries, radar surveillance coverage was not available on these oceanic air routes. These areas also required pilot-controller communication to be undertaken using HF (high frequency) radio in which information, requests and clearances were relayed by specialist HF air-ground radio operators. Controllers passed and received voice or type-written communications with the air-ground HF radio operator that detailed the exchanges with the aircraft. HF is notoriously impacted by atmospheric conditions, particularly thunderstorm activity, which is prevalent in areas of the Pacific.