A system for surveying aircraft present in an area covered by at least one communication satellite, the aircraft transmitting signals conveying surveillance messages. The coverage area consists of multiple spots, the satellite is configured to periodically apply a switching sequence, the sequence consisting of multiple switching phases, a switching phase corresponding to a duration during which the signals transmitted by the aircraft present in at least one spot are processed by the satellite in such a way as to detect surveillance messages, and the sequence is adapted to allow for the detection, during a predetermined period Tup, of at least one surveillance message by aircraft present in the coverage area.