ICAO Seminar on the Implementation of Datalink and SATCOM Communications Bangkok, 17-19 November 2003 VHF ACARS to ATN Akhil Sharma

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

SITA VGS Architecture SITA Ground Network ATN Router ACARS Processor Wide band Antenna interface (8) - X1 Antenna Relay switches Narrow band Antenna interface (8) - X2 interface (1) - X10 VHF Data Radios: Each VDR can be programmed to handle VHF analog ACARS or VHF Digital Link Mode 2 GPS source Uninterruptible Power Supply Power Supply Dual Power Supply VHF Ground Computer (VGC) Laptop computer for maintenance VDL Subnetwork Connections SITA Ground Network ATN Router ACARS and VDL AOA Traffic VGS Management Interface ACARS Processor VDL Management Entity Processor

VDL Mode 2 Deployment Drivers 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

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

Non AENA ATS Host Computer The Architecture AENA VGS Network Service Boundary AOC VHF stations (VGS) ATN CPDLC AIRLINE Host Computer Non AENA ATS Host Computer AENA Pre-FANS ATIS/DCL AENA G/G Network (REDAN) SITA Network Service SITA ACARS Processor MADRID BARCELONA AENA FANS 1/A (CPDLC/ ADS) Network Gateway R R

Non AENA ATS Host Computer The Architecture AENA VGS Network Service Boundary FANS VHF stations (VGS) ATN CPDLC AIRLINE Host Computer Non AENA ATS Host Computer AENA Pre-FANS ATIS/DCL AENA G/G Network (REDAN) SITA Network Service SITA ACARS Processor MADRID BARCELONA AENA FANS 1/A (CPDLC/ ADS) Network Gateway R R

Non AENA ATS Host Computer The Architecture AENA VGS Network Service Boundary Pre-FANS VHF stations (VGS) ATN CPDLC AIRLINE Host Computer Non AENA ATS Host Computer AENA Pre-FANS ATIS/DCL AENA G/G Network (REDAN) SITA Network Service SITA ACARS Processor MADRID BARCELONA AENA FANS 1/A (CPDLC/ ADS) Network Gateway R R

Non AENA ATS Host Computer The Architecture AENA VGS Network Service Boundary CPDLC/ATN VHF stations (VGS) ATN CPDLC AIRLINE Host Computer Non AENA ATS Host Computer AENA Pre-FANS ATIS/DCL AENA G/G Network (REDAN) SITA Network Service SITA ACARS Processor MADRID BARCELONA AENA FANS 1/A (CPDLC/ ADS) Network Gateway R R

Non AENA ATS Host Computer The Architecture AENA VGS Network Service Boundary AOC/ATN VHF stations (VGS) ATN CPDLC AIRLINE Host Computer Non AENA ATS Host Computer AENA Pre-FANS ATIS/DCL AENA G/G Network (REDAN) SITA Network Service SITA ACARS Processor MADRID BARCELONA AENA FANS 1/A (CPDLC/ ADS) Network Gateway R R

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 Airline B C VDL Mode 2 Air Traffic Service Provider FDPS ATN ATN G/G A/G Router Router A ACSP Network ATN ATN G/G G/G Router Router Communications Service Provider

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 Flows ATN AOA ACARS VDL2 Link AVLC Link VGS RGS ATN User Traffic Data Communication Network ATN Router ACARS User Traffic ACARS DSP Airline ACARS ATN System Host

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 akhil.sharma@sita.aero