Off the wire
• Algerian army kills militant, arrests another east of capital  • Saudi-led airstrikes kill 15 in Yemen despite truce  • China developing new generation supercomputer  • 1st LD: EU summit kicks off as leaders split over Greek debt issue  • Chinese vice premier calls for better protection of Great Wall  • One killed in armed attack by PKK in northeastern Turkey  • EU summit kicks off in hope for bridging trust gap on Greece  • China's Che/Jiang win table tennis women's doubles at Universiade  • Finland maintains strict line on Greek request  • Shortage of specialized nurses leads to fewer hospital beds in Sweden  
You are here: 　 Home

China's Beidou navigation system to track flights

Xinhua, July 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

China will use its homegrown Beidou satellite navigation system (BDS) to track civil flights, in an attempt to avoid disasters like the Malaysian MH 370.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said the BDS will be tested on general aviation first before it is used to monitor passenger or cargo flights.

The BDS, which boasts navigation, positioning and short message services, is able to trace aircrafts and aid search and rescue operations.

"We will first collect data and gather experience in general aviation and then gradually apply the BDS to transport aviation," said Wu Chengchang, safety chief of the CAAC at a recent seminar on BDS application in civil aviation.

China launched the first BDS satellite in 2000 to provide an alternative to foreign navigation systems. The country aimed to launch a total of 35 such orbiters and complete the global network by 2020.

The BDS services currently cover the Asia Pacific and will be expanded to the whole globe by its completion. Endi