icao seminar on the implementation of datalink and satcom communications bangkok, 17-19 november...

ICAO Seminar on the Implementation of

Datalink and SATCOM Communications

Bangkok, 17-19 November 2003

VHF ACARS to ATN

Akhil Sharma

ICAO Bangkok November2003

Outline

VDL Mode 2 Background ACARS over VDL AVLC – An Interim Step SITA VGS VDL Mode 2 – Drivers for Deployment SITA/AENA Partnership Agreement VDL Mode 2 Coverage ATN Service Provision


VDL Mode 2 Background Aircraft implementation of ACARS started in 1978 using

VHF voice radios to limit the avionics cost.– Attempts were made in the 1980’s to implement a higher capacity

VHF digital system but the business case could not be made. An IATA recommendation, supported by SITA, to the

ICAO conference in in 1990 led ICAO to launch the standardisation of VHF digital link.– ICAO specified that the VHF digital link would enable the

exchange of both air traffic and aeronautical operation control messages.

ICAO in 1996 completed standards of for VDL Mode 2– VDL Mode 2 uses digital radios to provide aircraft with a data link

to ground stations at a rate of 31.5 kbit/sec using a radio channel the same width as the legacy VHF analogue ACARS system uses to provide its capacity of 2.4 kbit/sec.


VDL Mode 2

One VDL Mode 2 channel provides at least 10 times more capacity increase over one ACARS channel

VDL Mode 2 is operational today using single 25 kHz channel shared between service providers

Selected by Eurocontrol and the FAA as the initial subnetwork technology to enable CPDLC– Consistent with IATA position


VDL Mode 2/AOA AEEC defined in 1999 an interim architecture that serves as a step

towards ATN referred to as “AOA”, “ACARS over VDL AVLC” AOA allows existing ACARS applications to benefit from the higher

bandwidth offered by VDL M2 Main benefit, in addition to capacity increase, is that no change

required to the interface to airline or ATS ground systems For aircraft, transition from AOA to ATN/VDL Mode 2 will require a

software upgrade to the avionics– All ACARS avionics vendors now offer VDL AOA avionics

– Several major AIRCOM customers planning AOA retrofits across the majority of their fleets

SITA evaluation of VDL AOA service with KLM (B737’s) has demonstrated that the service is working


VDL/AOA/ATN

ACARS 618 ( Satellite Data-2 )

ACARS 618 ( VHF Plain Old ACARS )

ACARS 618 ( A OA)

8208

AVLC

MAC

Physical

L M E

ACARS Applications

ACARS Router

ATN

AOC/ATC bit-oriented Applications

VDL/ATN Architecture ACARS Over AVLC (AOA)


SITA VGS Architecture

interface (8) - X2Narrow bandAntenna

interface (8) - X1Wide bandAntenna

VHF Data Radios: Each VDR can be programmed to handle VHF analog ACARS or VHF Digital Link Mode 2

VHF Ground Computer (VGC)

Laptop computerfor maintenance

Antenna Relay switches

Uninterruptible Power Supply

interface (1) - X10GPS source

Power SupplyDual Power Supply

VGS ManagementInterface ACARS Processor

SITA Ground Network

VDL Management Entity Processor

ATN RouterVDL Subnetwork

Connections

ACARS and VDL AOA Traffic


SITA deployment of VDL Mode 2 coverage is being driven by two main factors:– Airline customer requirements for increased ACARS

capacity in areas where the VHF analogue ACARS frequencies most heavily used and congestion is forecast

– Air traffic service providers requiring their Controller Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) to use ATN over VDL

– Air traffic service providers have the choice to contract service provision or deploy their own VDL networks

VDL Mode 2 Deployment Drivers


SITA/AENA VDL Partnership SITA signed an agreement with the Spanish Air Traffic Service

provider, AENA, that will result in:– VDL 2 coverage over entire Spanish terrestrial airspace through 21

AENA owned SITA VGS’ by end 1Q 2004– AENA responsibility for housing, maintenance and management of the

service– Seamless AOC service for SITA VHF AIRCOM customers– Platform for the introduction of CPDLC services over the ATN, planned

for 2006 Initial concrete example of the CNS industry/public joint

ventures foreseen by the European Commission’s Single European Sky initiative– Provides a pragmatic basis for European regional Air Traffic Service

provider entity owned VDL network service


The Architecture

SITA ACARSProcessor

AENA FANS 1/A (CPDLC/ ADS)

AENA Pre-FANSATIS/DCL

AIRLINE Host Computer

SITA Network Service

AENA G/G Network (REDAN)

VHF stations (VGS)

Network Gateway

MADRID

BARCELONA

Non AENA ATS Host Computer

AENA VGS Network Service Boundary

RR

ATN CPDLC

AOC


The Architecture

SITA ACARSProcessor






VHF stations (VGS)

Network Gateway

MADRID

BARCELONA



RR

ATN CPDLC

FANS


The Architecture

SITA ACARSProcessor






VHF stations (VGS)

Network Gateway

MADRID

BARCELONA



RR

ATN CPDLC

Pre-FANS


The Architecture

SITA ACARSProcessor






VHF stations (VGS)

Network Gateway

MADRID

BARCELONA



RR

ATN CPDLC

CPDLC/ATN


The Architecture

SITA ACARSProcessor






VHF stations (VGS)

Network Gateway

MADRID

BARCELONA



RR

ATN CPDLC

AOC/ATN


AIRCOM VDL 2 Coverage


VDL in Japan and Brasil With effect from 1st September 2003, AVICOM

introduced VDL/AOA service at New Tokyo and Kansai International Airports

An additional 8 VDL/AOA sites across Japan scheduled for deployment by end 2004

DECEA (Brasil) plans to deploy VDL/AOA capability at Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro Airports by mid 2004

The SITA Internetworking Agreements with AVICOM and DECEA enables VHF AIRCOM customers to benefit from the availability of these services


Transition towards ICAO ATN ICAO ATN and associated “subnetwork” standards

are finally complete– VDL Modes 2, 3 and 4– Mode S Datalink– AMSS

Main ATN objective is to integrate various air/ground and ground/ground “subnetwork” technolgies into a seamless transparent “end-to-end” service

ICAO ATN Standards include definition of ADS, CPDLC and FIS applications


The ATN Concept


Link2000+ Programme Co-ordinating the implementation of CPDLC services over

ATN/VDL2 in Europe Services are compatible with FAA CPDLC Build 1 Maastricht UACC will introduce the service in Dec. 2003 Maastricht FANS 1/A Service re-launched June 03 Two major airlines (SAS and LH) have committed to support

the Link2000+ programme for ATN Eurocontrol is funding upgrade from AOA to

CPDLC/ATN/VDL2 for 100 “pioneer aircraft” Eurocontrol now considering providing funding to States of

upto $1M per ACC (max. 5) ATS providers to pay for ATS data link messages


Link2000+ Airline and ATSP Statements

Airlines and ATS providers have stated that:– “Neither aircraft operators nor air traffic service

providers shall be constrained in their choice of service provider or routing of ATS traffic exchange”.

– “All service providers shall interconnect for the exchange of ATS traffic to provide a seamless connection between the airborne and ground domain”.

The LINK 2000+ Programme is therefore acting to satisfy these requirements so that ARINC and SITA compete to offer both AOC and CPDLC services to their customers.


Initial ATN Architecture

ATN G/G

Router

ACSP Network

Air Traffic Service Provider

Airline

ATN G/G

Router

ATN A/G

Router

VDL Mode 2

A

B

ATN G/G

Router

Communications Service Provider

C

FDPS


SITA ATN Service SITA plans to launch ATN Service in support of

the Link2000+ Pioneer Project by mid 2004 Lufthansa have committed 20 Airbus type aircraft

with H/well CMU to be flying in mid 2004 and plan to use the SITA ATN Service

Existing VDL AIRCOM provides coverage over majority of Western Europe airspace

Deployment of ATN service requires integration of ground/ground and air/ground ATN Routers


Communications FlowsAOAATN ACARS

VGS RGS

ACARS DSP Airline ACARSHost

Data Communication Network

AVLC LinkVDL2 Link

ATN System

ATN User Traffic

ACARS User TrafficATN Router


Conclusions VDL Mode 2 AIRCOM is operational today Major airlines planning retrofitting their fleets to VDL/AOA VDL Mode 2 coverage is driven by AOC and ATS

requirements VDL Mode 2 adopted by Link2000+ and the FAA CPDLC

Programme as the initial subnetwork for CPDLC SITA is open to develop further VDL Mode 2 partnership

arrangements with ATS Providers SITA’s ATN Service planned to be launched mid-2004 for

Link2000+

Thank you for your attention

For further information please contact

[email protected]

icao seminar on the implementation of datalink and satcom communications bangkok, 17-19 november...

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