We present a software prototype (SafeNcy) capable of automatically choosing and ranking landing sites for emergency situations and of generating four-dimensional (4D) trajectories towards these sites. We describe the modules composing this framework, together with their main capabilities, interactions and the workflow of the full integrated system. Different types of emergencies are firstly categorized. Then, for each type of emergency, landing sites—including off-airport locations—are ranked, and speed and vertical trajectory descent profiles are tailored accordingly. These algorithms take into account several data from different sources, such as terrain databases, weather forecasts and aircraft performance models. We outline a new concept of operations aiming to integrate SafeNcy into the current aircraft operations and air traffic management paradigms. Several scenarios, focusing on total engine flame-out situations, are described and used to validate the framework, as well as to show its main features. The scenarios were designed in cooperation with a group of expert pilots and engineers. SafeNcy is expected to be an additional function for advanced and extended flight management systems, alleviating flight crew’s workload and contributing to a more digital cockpit. It could also be a technical enabler for future unmanned or highly-automated aviation.

This paper presents the first comparisons of backscattering coefficients σ0between acquisitions from the SWALIS (Still WAter Low Incidence Scattering) airborne sensor and the space mission SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography) over the Mont Saint-Michel (MSM) bay and over the Gondrexange and Stoke ponds. The MSM area is chosen both as a calibration/validation area for the SWOT mission and as a perfect area for analyzing the backscattering of specific sand areas.

The Fine Resolution Explorer for Salinity, Carbon and Hydrology (FRESCH) is presented. The science case and the mission objectives are discussed before presenting the mission concept. FRESCH is an L-band antenna array operated in beamforming mode providing data at a spatial resolution of 10-15 km to study the biogeochemical and physical phenomena taking place at the interfaces of ocean, land and ice. FRESCH has been submitted to the European Space Agency Earth Explorer 12 program.

This paper reports on the main results of SMOS-HR instrument technical study, a new interferometric radiometer dedicated to Soil Moisture and Ocean Salinity measurement from space. The instrument aims at providing enhanced spatial resolution with respect to SMOS and integrating robust RFI (RF Interference) mitigation technique. The instrument key performance requirements and the architecture features and trade-offs are exposed in this paper.

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