ABSTRACT
This chapter provides background on the work of the Future Air Navigation System Committee and International Civil Aviation Organization and its panels as that work is related to the surveillance component of communications, navigation and surveillance/air traffic management (CNS/ATM) systems. It presents a description of the envisioned changes that will form the basis of future surveillance systems and methods, and reviews the benefits to aviation that could be expected with implementation of the new systems. The chapter discusses some of the ways and places where the surveillance element of CNS/ATM technology is being experimented with and implemented. The efficiency of air traffic control is dependent upon the availability of communications and surveillance capabilities. Aircraft under emergency conditions can be detected and an approximate position established using their last message and their last position as recorded from the surveillance system. The Automatic Dependent Surveillance data reports are transmitted automatically without pilot action.
