Relevance and Applications of Satellite-Based Earth Observation for Civil Aviation

Space-based technologies are widely used to support and increase safety and efficiency of international civilian air traffic. While satellite navigation and satellite communications were already established decades ago, new systems and applications offer new possibilities. With the introduction of specially dedicated satellite systems and services, the importance of space-based systems in aviation will even increase in the future. Amongst them, satellite-based earth observation is impacting civilian air traffic in many ways. A short overview of possibilities and current applications is given in this article.