The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has awarded to Funkwerk Avionics GmbH the contract to manage the project "Mode S Transponders in High-Density Operational Environments" (MOSTDONT). Project partner to Funkwerk Avionics is FCS Flight Calibration Services GmbH, Braunschweig. The Institute of Flight Guidance (IFF) of the Technical University Braunschweig is a subcontractor to Funkwerk Avionics.
The MOSTDONT project aims at investigating various aspects of Mode S transponder detection for aircraft in high-density environments with a special focus on General Aviation. The main focus is to measure and analyse the real-world 1030 MHz interrogation signals in flight and to propose improvements of current certification standards based on those findings.
While FCS will have the scientific lead and be responsible for conducting and analysing the measurement flights, Funkwerk Avionics as a leading European manufacturer of Mode S transponders will focus on necessary changes to certification test specifications. The IFF will investigate interference problems in the interrogation signals, based on recordings of existing Mode S monitoring stations.
Additional aspects to be addressed are the impacts  of single-antenna installations and the characteristics of radar side lobe suppression signals.
The MOSTDONT project was started on February 1st, 2010, and has a duration of 7 months. (Press Release 01/2010)