1. Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communications System (AeroMACS) Status Briefing Presentation to WG-M/18 Montreal, Canada
Presented by: Brent Phillips; FAA
Date: July 18, 2011

2. Background
Future Communications Study (AP-17), ICAO Aeronautical Communications Panel, Recommendation #1:
Develop a new system based on the IEEE e standard operating in the C-band and supporting the airport surface environment.
NextGen Implementation Plan (FY09, FY10 & FY11) to improve collaborative Air Traffic Management includes “New ATM Requirements: Future Communications”
Concepts of use, preliminary requirements, and architecture for C-band airport surface wireless communication system
Test bed infrastructure to enable validation of aviation profile 2

3. C-band Datalink Recommendations
Develop airport surface system based on IEEE e standard [A1.1] Identify the portions of the IEEE standard best suited for airport surface wireless communications, identify and develop any missing functionality and propose an aviation specific standard to appropriate standardisation bodies; [A1.2] Evaluate and validate the performance of the aviation specific standard to support wireless mobile communications networks operating in the relevant airport surface environments through trials and test bed development; [A1.3] Propose a channelization methodology for allocation of safety and regularity of flight services in the band to accommodate a range of airport classes, configurations and operational requirements; [A0.4] Complete business analysis in relation to the FCI components and implementation from the perspective of the ground infrastructure and the airlines.
A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I Z A T I O N
ato 3

4. 2007 World Radiocommunications Conference Decision
The WRC-07 approved adding an AM(R)S allocation for MHz to the International Table of Frequency Allocations
Removed prior limitation in so-called MLS Extension Band for “support of navigation/surveillance functions”
AM(R)S designation for safety and regularity of flight applications
No interference allowed with other occupants in the band: non-GEO satellite feeder links and aeronautical telemetry
Protected allocation enables ICAO to develop international standards for airport mobile (i.e., wheels in contact) surface wireless communications networks that include fixed assets
Ideal for airport surface wireless network with short range (~10 km or less sector coverage) and high data throughput (10s of Mb/s)
The WRC-12 will consider adding an AM(R)S allocation in the MHz band
A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I Z A T I O N
ato 4

5. Potential AeroMACS Service Categories in U.S.
ARINC, SITA, Airlines, Others?
Port Authority, Commercial?
FAA, FTI, Others? 5

6. AeroMACS Service Examples and Provision Options
Air Traffic Services
Service Examples
Air traffic control commands beyond Data Comm Segment 3
Surface communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) fixed assets
Provision Options
Government-owned (licensed)/Government-operated (GO/GO)
Government-owned (licensed)/Commercially-operated (GO/CO)
Non-competed service extension via FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI)
Open commercial competition by FAA
Airline Services
Airline Operational Control (AOC)
Airline Administrative Communications (AAC)
Advisory information
System Wide Information Management (SWIM)
Aeronautical Information Management (AIM)
Meteorological (MET) data services
Commercially-owned (licensed)/Commercially-operated (CO/CO)
Non-competed service extension via exiting AOC service providers
Airline service provision internally
Open commercial competition by airlines
Airport Operator/Port Authority Services
Security video
Routine and emergency operations
De-icing/snow removal
Local Government-owned (licensed)/Commercially-operated (GO/CO)
Open commercial competition by Operator/Port Authority 6

7. C-Band Research Description – FY09
Develop ConUse, requirements, and architecture for the C-Band airport surface wireless communications system Conduct supporting system analyses (e.g. high-level safety, interference, wireless security, risk assessment) Develop detailed system designs based on IEEE standards Establish an operational capability in NextGen CNS Test Bed to characterize the performance and conduct services demos/trials Develop test and demo plans and execute those plans to establish baseline performance as point of departure for proposed aeronautical services modifications Develop initial recommendations for joint RTCA/EUROCAE standards activities and provide support to new RTCA SC, and propose methods to validate standards in follow-on tasks

8. AeroMACS NASA-CLE CNS Test Bed
ITT’s AeroMACS prototype implements features required to support mobile and stationary wideband communications for safety and regularity of flight services in an operational airport environment
Full prototype network has been installed, including user verification and security with Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) server function
AeroMACS hardware and network installation completed in October 2009 with two multi-sector base stations providing wide area coverage and redundancy (one on Glenn property, one on CLE) and eight subscriber stations (two on Glenn, six on CLE)
AeroMACS operational capability established in March 2010

9. NASA-Cleveland Test Bed AeroMACS Network Layout
Approach
Lighting SS
Snow
Barn SS
Private
Hangar SS
GRC B500 SS
GRC B110
Core Server
& Backhaul
GRC B4 BS &
Backhaul
Consolidated
Maintenance
Facility SS
ARFF BS &
Terminal C
AZ = 55° °
AZ = 200°
AZ = 295°
AZ = 45°
AZ = 185°
Glycol
Tanks SS
Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport
NASA Glenn
Research Center
Base
Stations
Subscriber
Stations
Core
Server

10. Two-Sector Base Station Located at NASA Glenn Hangar Building 4
BTS 1-1 ODU
BTS 1-2 ODU
GPS ODU
11 GHz Backhaul ODU

11. Three-Sector Base Station Located at CLE Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Building
ARFF Building and Observation Deck
GPS ODUs
BS ODUs (3)
11 GHz Data
Backhaul to B110

12. Subscriber Station Installation Example on Sensis MLAT Equipment at NASA Glenn Building 500
ITT AeroMACS
Subscriber Station
ODU
Electronics
Enclosure
Sensis
Multilateration
MLAT Remote Unit
Equipment

13. AeroMACS FY10 Evaluations
Measure data throughput and packet integrity for the following conditions:
5 and 10 MHz channel bandwidths
Stationary and mobile subscriber stations at speeds of at least 40 knots
Line-Of-Sight (LOS) and Non-LOS (N-LOS) propagation links
Presence of adjacent channel activity
Mobility tests with hand-off transition between base station coverage sectors and between base stations
Determine minimum transmit power required to maintain a minimum level of link performance:
Single subscriber station antenna
MIMO antenna diversity
Characterize link performance when transferring sensor data from MLAT sensors in test bed
Mixture of data traffic streams
Traffic priority setting with Quality of Service (QoS) settings

14. Funded Research Activities in FY11
Evaluate selected ATC mobile applications on the aeronautical mobile airport communications system (AeroMACS)
Investigate and resolve remaining issues affecting the final AeroMACS profile inputs to the MOPS process
Evaluate and recommend mobile Source Station (SS) MIMO antenna configurations for mobile SSs
Optimize AeroMACS system-level performance (QoS, data throughput, latency, error rate) within ITU limitations on radiated power
Resolve channel BW and center frequency spacing plans to satisfy US and European objectives while preserving Spectrum Office flexibility and compatibility with WiMAX Forum practices
Validate that the proposed AeroMACS complies with interference requirements for the US proposed allocation at World Radiocommunications Conference in 2012.

15. RTCA SC-223
RTCA Program Management Council approved SC-223 in July 2009 for Airport Surface Wireless Communications standard development
Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communications System (AeroMACS) profile is based on IEEE standard
Working in close collaboration with EUROCAE WG-82 to develop joint profile and MOPS documents.
Engaged industry participation from their perspectives:
Honeywell (Co-Lead) and Rockwell Collins, avionics providers
ITT (Co-Lead) and Harris, service providers
Boeing, aircraft manufacturer
Draft AeroMACS profile complete. Document through Final Recommendations and Comments (FRAC). Presented to PMC 28 Sept. for formal approval.
Minimum Operational Performance Standard (MOPS) process began in February
Next Meeting:
August 2011 at RTCA Washington D.C.

16. Approach for Technical Parameter Profile
System profile define AeroMACS operation in the unique airport surface environment
Profile based on IEEE broadband mobility standard
Leverages commercial mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) for profiles, hardware, software, and network architecture
Testing, analyses, and demos will validate that application needs are met
RTCA SC-223 is developing FAA profile recommendations; EUROCAE WG-82 is developing common profile for EUROCONTROL in parallel
Profile Area
Key Parameter Selections
RF/Radio parameters
Frequency band
Channel BWs
Channel center frequencies
5091 to 5150 MHz
5, 10 MHz
Center frequencies at 5 MHz increments
Power class
Max DL TX power
Max UL TX power
Unchanged from IEEE e
Duplex Mode
TDD/FDD
TDD
Physical Layer
M-ary QAM range
Coding options
MIMO
Performance profiles – Min. performance defined in e and sensitivity values scaled for frequency
MAC Layer
ARQ
Security protocols
Mobile protocols
QoS options

17. Pending Action Plan 30: FCI
AP-30 Future Communications Infrastructure
On 30 July 2009, the FAA-Eurocontrol Coordinating Committee (CCOM) approved the AP-30
“Eurocontrol/Jacky Pouzet and FAA/Brent Phillips to develop a work programme for the agreed new Action Plan to cover Communication Infrastructure that will focus on WiMAX at terminal areas. TOR and AWP2010 to be proposed at CCOM 11.”
Conduct the research and technology development for the FCI based on the ICAO endorsed findings and recommendations of AP-17: Future Communications Study (FCS)
FAA/Steve Bradford endorsed NASA’s co-signatory role on AP-30 as on AP-17
FAA-NASA to focus on airport surface AeroWiMAX
FAA to allow Eurocontrol to lead on L-band enroute
NASA-funded research on SatCom FCI for FAA is preferred 17

18. C-Band Research Description – FY12
Assess requirements for data service segregation and reliable delivery of ATC and AOC AeroMACS applications identified by the RCTA SC-223 Ad Hoc User Services and Applications Survey working group. Investigate secure and reliable methods for Private Key Management and synchronization across all AAA AeroMACS sites, including the responsibility for generating initial PKM certificates and dissemination across the AeroMACS system Support the development of the AeroMACS Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) document in ICAO ACP Working Group S through validation and analysis.

19. AeroMACS Activities Schedule & Milestones
2009
2010
2011
Task Name J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D
Technology Investigation Phase III Report (May 2007)
U.S/Eurocontrol FCS Final Recommendations (Nov 2007)
ICAO Endorses FCS Recommendations (Apr. 2008)
NextGen I&I Project Level Agreements
NASA TestBed Development
AeroMACS Validation Testing
RTCA SC-223 PMC Approval
RTCA SC-223/EUROCAE WG-82 Joint Working Groups
AeroMACS Profile Development
AeroMACS MOPS Development
AeroMACS Vol I Report: Concepts of Use, Initial System Reqts, Architecture and Design Considerations
AeroMACS Vol II Report: Test Bed Performance Evaluationand AeroMACS Recommendations
AeroMACS Profile Validation Activities