A European-funded research project has reached a significant milestone in air traffic management innovation, successfully carrying out the first bidirectional VHF voice communications from space using the IOD-1 satellite—a low-Earth orbit (LEO) platform.

The achievement took place during live trials between ENAIRE’s Area Control Centre in Gran Canaria and NAV PORTUGAL’s installations in Santa Maria, in the Azores.

The tests are part of the ECHOES project—Enabling Communications High Output Extended Satellite-based—which is exploring the feasibility of space-based VHF communications to complement ground infrastructure and extend coverage over oceanic and remote areas. The project is co-funded by the European Union through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Transport) and supported by the SESAR Joint Undertaking.

In the first phase of testing, a connection was established between a commercial VHF radio located in the Santa Maria airport control tower and the IOD-1 satellite, using standard air traffic control procedures. From the Azores, a voice message was transmitted via VHF to the satellite, which then relayed it via a feeder link to the control centre in the Canary Islands. The center responded, enabling a real-time voice exchange through the satellite.

In the second phase, communications were extended to commercial aircraft. The Gran Canaria control centre sent VHF voice messages via IOD-1 to Air Europa and Iberia flights operating over the Atlantic. Both aircraft successfully received the communications and replied in real time, allowing pilots to experience the performance of the system under real operational conditions. Although air traffic controllers have not yet been involved in the tests, their participation is expected in the near future.

These early results suggest that LEO satellites like IOD-1 could offer a reliable and responsive platform for extending VHF voice communications beyond the reach of terrestrial infrastructure. The proximity of LEO satellites to Earth enables lower latency and clearer transmissions—advantages that are particularly valuable for air traffic control over oceanic or remote areas where ground-based systems are not available.

Building on these initial results, the launch of a second satellite, IOD-2, is planned for later this summer. The additional platform will enable further testing and refinement of the concept, and contribute to the development of a future operational space-based VHF communication system for aviation. 

More about the project