Since its early times, one of aviation’s principles is “see and avoid”: see other airspace users and avoid them. Several technologies have been introduced to support pilots in this task; but they do not properly interact. Even though most airspace users in Switzerland have at least one of these technologies onboard, the lack of interoperability is a safety issue.

FASST-CH Vision and goal
In 2023, FASST-CH (Future Aviation Surveillance Services and Technologies in Switzerland) was launched to tackle this issue in a broader context. The vision for 2035 developed within FASST-CH in collaboration with several Swiss and international stakeholders is a fully connected airspace where pilots can access traffic, weather and airspace status data in real time.

The envisioned airspace will build on an “i-conspicuity ecosystem”, to be achieved by 2028, where air to air interoperability of technologies will be complemented by a ground infrastructure, thus ensuring complete visibility of the surrounding traffic.

Call to action
After carefully examining the Swiss situation, ongoing initiatives in Europe and the technological developments on the market, the FOCA, in collaboration with Swiss stakeholders, concluded that interoperability will be achieved through the adoption of a minimum set of open standards. This will happen via software updates to existing equipment or with the installation of new equipment; the ecosystem will be completed by rebroadcasting of data via a ground network.

Today FOCA is publishing a recommendation advising airspace users on which technologies are best suited for their aircraft category. Mode-S transponder, currently mandatory in parts of the airspace for some users, is only one of the options available. The FOCA invites airspace users to equip their aircraft according to the issued recommendation, thereby contributing to shaping the envisioned i-conspicuity ecosystem and consequently enhance safety. The cost for equipping aircraft might be eligible for financial support from FOCA via Special Financing for Air Traffic, covering measures to increase flight safety.

Standardize airspace users’ electronic visibility to make the sky safer