-
StatusOngoing
-
Status date2014-01-15
Objectives
The objectives of the operations (OPERA) study are to:
- Define the requirements regarding operation of the satellite system and assess all operational aspects to guarantee the operability of the system itself, its efficiency, and low-cost of operation and maintenance in accordance with users’ needs;
- Define options for the role of entities involved in service provision, analyse the impact of the regulatory framework possibly associated to their role, determine the risks for satellite operators and satellite service providers associated with provision of the Satcom service, and propose a service provision scheme reflecting the interest of the study team in performing these roles in the future operational scheme;
- Determine which activities are required to validate the safety communication service and deduce requirements for the minimum subset of the system architecture required to first perform technical validation of the system, then propose a deployment strategy to reach full operational capability by 2020;
- Develop a business case and analyse the impact of changes in aviation requirements in terms of cost/benefit from the perspective of the satellite service provider on the various options proposed for the operational space segment;
- Propose options for financing deployment of the Iris “Subset”, and of the full operational system architecture, propose a scheme for the transfer of assets from ESA to the owner of the satellite system (at the end of Iris Phase 2.2) and determine pre-requisites for entering into an agreement with the Agency during Phase 2.2 of the Iris Programme.
Challenges
The key issues addressed by the operations (OPERA) study are as follows:
- Operability of the satellite communication system designed within the Iris Programme, its efficiency, and low-cost of operation and maintenance in accordance with users’ needs;
- Operational considerations for satellite operators and satellite service providers associated with provision of the OPERA service;
- Identification of a timeline for certification, verification, validation for the Iris system;
- Identification of a timeline for set-up of the Iris “Subset” for validation, then deployment of the system in pre-operational and operational phases;
- Impact of changes in aviation requirements in terms of cost/benefit and regulatory impact on operations from the perspective of the satellite service provider on the various options proposed for the operational space segment;
- Funding scenarios for the Iris “Subset” and the full operational system including the transfer of assets from ESA to the owner of the satellite system;
- Pre-requisites for entering into an agreement with the system owner for the provision of the safety communication service to the aviation knowing that ESA will not be the system owner and will not be involved with the operational system.
Benefits
The present study will provide inputs to the System Design Phase B study (ANTARES) before the SRR and a refinement of those inputs after the SRR. It will bring complement for what concerns operations of the satellite system.
Additionally, the results of the study will be used as inputs in exchanges between ESA, SESAR JU and the European commission in preparing Iris phase 2.2 and will help ESA in entering negotiations with a satellite operator and/or a satellite provider to prepare the case for provision of the safety communication service to aviation.
Features
N/A
Plan
The activities are split in two phases:
- Phase 1 with a maximum duration of 6 months. Phase 1 corresponds to activities carried out until the System Requirements Review of the Iris System Design Phase B activity (SRR), which is foreseen in June 2010.
- Phase 2, subject to the Agency’s authorisation to proceed, with duration of 6 months. Based on the outcome of the ANTARES SRR.
Current status
The study is now concluded.
We have now produced all expected deliverables and provided support to ESA into additional meetings to present the results of our study.
In particular all Technical Notes are available as well as the Final Report.