ROBERTS FIR SIGNS HISTORIC CONTRACT WITH AIREON FOR SPACE-BASED ADS-B LAUNCH FOR THE COMBINED AIRSPACE OF MRU STATES

On May 28, 2026, at CANSO Airspace World 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal, the Roberts Flight Information Region (RFIR) achieved a historic milestone with the signing of a contract with Aireon for the deployment of Space-Based Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. The Roberts FIR, which encompasses the airspaces of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, entered into this strategic agreement to modernize aviation surveillance and strengthen regional airspace management.

The introduction of space-based ADS-B represents a transformative advancement in aviation safety and efficiency for West Africa. Unlike traditional ground-based radar systems, space-based ADS-B utilizes satellite networks to provide continuous, real-time surveillance of aircraft movements, even in remote or oceanic areas where conventional coverage is limited. This innovation will significantly enhance flight capability, improve airspace safety, and support rescue coordination in the event of emergencies.

The contract signing underscores the commitment of RFIR and Aireon to align regional aviation practices with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It further demonstrates the determination of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to collaborate in securing their shared airspace, ensuring compliance with global safety requirements, and fostering confidence among international carriers operating in the region. In a defining moment for West African aviation, RFIR and Aireon LLC signed this historic Memorandum of Understanding at the same event to launch Space-Based ADS-B across the three Mano River Union states. The MoU, signed by Emil Rogers, Secretary General of RFIR and Donald L. Thoma, CEO of Aireon, goes beyond a technology contract. It is a blueprint for regional cooperation, binding three sovereign nations to a shared future of seamless, safe, and sovereign airspace management.

 “This agreement is the strongest statement yet that the future of African aviation will be built on integration, not isolation,” Rogers said. “For decades, the airspace of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone requires efficient surveillance, but constrained by the gaps between national systems and the physical limits of ground-based radar.” Space-based ADS-B erases those gaps. By using Aireon’s satellite constellation, RFIR gains 100% real-time visibility of every aircraft in its airspace over land, ocean, and remote terrain. “But the real breakthrough is political and operational,” Rogers added. “Three sovereign nations committing to one standard, one system, and one shared responsibility for the skies.”

RFIR Secretary General Emil Rogers framed the MoU as a turning point for the region. He noted that “Today we are not just signing for technology. We are signing for trust. For too long, regional integration was a speech. Today, it is a satellite signal. This MoU means a controller in Monrovia, a pilot over Conakry, and a rescue team in Freetown are now connected by the same real-time truth. That is what integration looks like.” Rogers further that “When Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone move as one in our airspace, we send a message to the world and to ourselves. The Mano River Union is not just a map. It is a mechanism. And it works. Space-based ADS-B proves that regional problems have regional solutions. We are no longer waiting for the future. We are contracting for it.”

The MoU will have key immediate impacts on regional cooperation and integration, including mandates, shared standards, joint training, and integrated procedures across the three states. RFIR controllers will work from the same live picture, enabling coordinated traffic flows and harmonized safety protocols, Airlines can now plan fuel-efficient routes that treat the Roberts FIR as one continuous airspace. That cuts costs, reduces emissions, and makes West Africa a more competitive transit corridor, benefiting all three economies, Search and Rescue becomes a regional asset. With precise, real-time positions, any of the three states can lead or support emergency response across borders. No more delays caused by surveillance gaps. Positions the Mano River countries as a bloc within ICAO and CANSO. Acting together, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone now have a stronger voice in shaping global air navigation policy.

Rogers noted the strategic weight of the agreement “RFIR is proving that regional cooperation is the fastest path to global standards. This MoU does not cede control it strengthens it. Sovereignty is strong when you can see everything in your sky. That is what we are delivering within the Mano River Union.” The MoU triggers immediate joint implementation, and technical teams from Aireon and RFIR will integrate space-based ADS-B data into the region’s air traffic management systems, with full operational capability to follow. But the deeper implementation is institutional. This MoU creates a framework for the Roberts FIR to act as one entity in technology, in training, and in crisis. It is the infrastructure of integration. The signing of this MoU on May 28, 2026, will be remembered as the day three nations chose to see their airspace as common ground. For passengers, it means safer flights. For airlines, it means efficient routes. For the Mano River Union, it means a working model of integration that other sectors can follow.

The Roberts Flight Information Region is a multinational air navigation service provider established to manage the upper airspace of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Named after Roberts International Airport in Liberia, RFIR is tasked with providing safe, orderly, and efficient air traffic services across a critical segment of West African and Atlantic Oceanic airspace. RFIR is a working example of regional integration in aviation. Its mandate is to harmonize procedures, optimize routes, and ensure ICAO standards are met across all three member states. Under the leadership of Secretary General Emil Rogers, RFIR has prioritized modernization, safety, and cooperation as pillars for regional development. RFIR is headquartered in Monrovia, Liberia. Aireon operates the world’s first space-based air traffic surveillance system.

The company’s technology uses Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) receivers hosted on the Iridium NEXT satellite constellation to provide 100% global, real-time tracking of ADS-B-equipped aircraft. Unlike traditional ground-based radar, Aireon’s system covers remote, oceanic, and polar regions with no infrastructure required on the ground. The service is operational and regulated for use in air traffic management, with major deployments over the North Atlantic in partnership with NAV CANADA and NATS. Aireon’s data supports enhanced safety, reduced aircraft separation, optimized flight paths, and improved search-and-rescue response. The company is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, and its system is recognized by ICAO as a key enabler of the Global Air Navigation Plan.