New technology keeps close eye on sky

New Australian flight-tracking technology is off the radar.

After a decade in the pipeline, Airservices Australia has revealed details of a surveillance system that checks the position of an aircraft twice per second.

The satellite-based technology supplies information to air traffic controllers and pilots without the need for conventional radar, Airservices said in a statement on Wednesday.

The system is considered a breakthrough for the monitoring of aircraft in remote areas not previously covered by radar.

Pinpointing aircraft will enable more traffic to use preferred flight routes and create more efficient diversions around bad weather and restricted areas.

The Automatic Dependant Surveillance Broadcast, or ADS-B, uses a network of 61 ground stations across the country, and has been mandated for use by domestic and international aircraft.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service has championed the technology, adding it is particularly useful during flights to remote parts of Australia.

An additional 15 ground stations are due to be added over the next three years, providing higher level coverage offshore.