1. International Civil Aviation Organization
INFORMATION PAPER
ACP-WGM16/IP-xx
May 2010
AERONAUTICAL COMMUNICATIONS PANEL (ACP)
16th MEETING OF WORKING GROUP M
Paris, France 17 – 19 May 2010
Agenda Item: 1x
Data Communications Program
Status
(Presented by: Andy Colon, FAA)
SUMMARY
This information paper is intended to provide status of on going activities within the FAA for the implementation of the Data Communications Program.

2. Agenda Data Comm Objectives Segment 1 and Segment 2 Services (Summary)
FAA Acquisition Lifecycle
Milestones & Activities (Leading to FID)
Program Outreach
DCNSD Acquisition Status
Notional Architecture 2

3. Data Comm Objectives
Efficiency – enhance productivity of controllers and pilots
Examples services include: Revised Departure Clearances, Optimized Descents, Transfer of Communications
Capacity – enable advanced operations to reduce resource needs
Examples services include: Initial Trajectory Based Operations, Conformance Management
Safety – reduce communications errors related to voice
Examples services include: Addressed Clearances

4. Segment 1 Services - Tower
Planning acceleration of Revised Departure Clearances (DCL) in response to RTCA NextGen Task Force recommendations (S1P1)
Enables full route clearances and revisions
Exploits Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS) avionics found in newer aircraft
Will not impact existing services
Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS) up-links of airport weather, hazards, and restrictions to the aircraft (S1P2)
Requires Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) avionics
DCL – Departure Clearance
including revisions transmitted to the aircraft on the ground
Planning milestone for IOC Have developed plan to accelerate by one year. Currently reviewing safety requirements and vetting with FAA mgt. (Steve, too many unknowns to commit to 2013 date. Once we have more info on safety analyses and JRC approval in May we will be in better position to commit. We are currently working towards 2013 IOC for FANS 1/A+ over Mode 2 for DCL. Have made no mention of alternative strategy to Industry community. No DATIS until Phase 2.)
Phase 1 (2014 planning milestone): DCL with FANS 1/!+ over Mode 2 only
Phase 2 (2016 planning milestone): Phase 1 + DCL with ATN SC-214, also DATIS
Note: Reason for 2016 is interdependency with ERAM development of ATN logon and protocol gateway.
D-ATIS
Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS) up-links of airport weather, hazards, and restrictions to the aircraft. 4

5. Segment 1 Services - En Route
Data link logon (DLL) service to provide a unique digital identification of every aircraft (S1P1)
Initial use of Trajectory Clearances for continuous descent approaches (S1P2)
Automatic ATC “hand-off” (ACM) data transmitted to aircraft identifying the radio frequency in use by the next air traffic control sector (S1P2)
Data Link Logon (DLL)
4D TRAJ – 4D Trajectory
in Performance Based Airspace, providing conflict-free flight with stable aircraft routing
ACM – ATC Communications Management
data transmitted to aircraft identifying the radio frequency in use by the next air traffic control sector
AMC – ATC Microphone Check 5

6. Segment 2 Services Continue Segment 1 services in Tower and En Route
Extend Segment 1 services to TRACON
Plus additional services:
Trajectory Based Operations in Performance Based Airspace, providing conflict-free flight with stable aircraft routing
Conformance Management to ensure aircraft compliance with trajectory
Optimized Profile Descents and time-based metering
NAS Airport status, delays and constraints, hazardous weather uplinked to the aircrew
Taxi-in / Taxi-out service provides taxi routes for aircraft to follow from the gate to the runway
D-TAXI – Data Link TAXI
service provides taxi routes for aircraft to follow from the gate to the runway
4D TRAJ – 4D Trajectory
in Performance Based Airspace, providing conflict-free flight with stable aircraft routing
FLIPINT – Flight Plan Intent
ITP – In-Trail Procedures
M&S – Merging and Spacing
C&P – Crossing and Passing
PAIRAPP – Paired Approaches
D-OTIS – Data Link Operational Terminal Information Service
D-HIWAS – Data Link Hazardous Weather Service
RVR – Data Link Runway Visual Range Service
D-FLUP – Data Link Flight Update
Information sent to aircraft on known flight delays/constraints, using the Data Link Flight Update Service.
April 28, 2010 6

7. Timeline – Segment 1 Final Investment Decision
Air Ground Network & Tower Automation (2011)
Initial
Investment
Decision
(2008)
Screening Information Request (2010)
Investment
Analysis
Readiness
Decision
(2006)
Final Investment Decision for
En Route (2012)
Tower
Initial Site
(2014) En
Route
Initial Site (2016)
Many of you are probably familiar with the FAA’s Acquisition Management System represented by this graphic. Data Comm received approval to enter Investment Analysis in 2006, and successfully completed the first phase in 2008.
The program is now in Final Investment Analysis and the focus is to finalize the requirements and the business case for the components required to deliver Segment One services. The Final Investment Decision for the Data Communications Network and Tower services is scheduled for Towards this end we will be releasing a Request for Proposal for the Data Communications Network Service in 2010.
The Final Investment Decision for En Route Services is planned for 2012.
Tower service is scheduled to begin in 2014 with Departure Clearances. We are assessing how to accelerate the development and implementation.
En Route services are currently planned to begin in They include automating routine clearances, transfer of communications to the next sector, and the ability to provide better routes around weather.
The program cost and schedule profiles for Segment One services will be baselined at Final Investment Decision.

8. Timeline – Segment 2 Segment 2
En Route and Approach Control Implementation ( )
Final Investment Decision
Segment 2
En Route and Approach Control (2015)
Initial
Investment
Decision
(2008)
Investment
Analysis
Readiness
Decision
(2006)
Segment Two services will include introducing data messages for non time critical communications in the Approach Control environment, as well as implementing trajectory based flight in designated airspace.
The Final Investment Decision for these capabilities is currently scheduled in The planning milestone for initial Approach Control services is 2018 and we are in the process of refining our planning date for En Route Services. The date is anticipated in the 2018 – 2020 range.

9. FY09 – FY12 Activities
1QTR
2QTR
3QTR
4QTR
FY 2009
1QTR
2QTR
3QTR
4QTR
FY 2010
1QTR
2QTR
3QTR
4QTR
FY 2011
1QTR
2QTR
3QTR
4QTR
FY 2012
Milestone P
Develop Initial Equipage Strategy
Release Data Communications Network Service (DCNS) RFC
Develop System Performance & Loading Analysis Documents
Conduct Human-in-the-Loop Simulations
Release Draft DCNS Screening Information Request (SIR)
Draft Avionics Standards
SC-214 Work Package 2
Finalize Communication
System Specifications
Release DCNS Screening
Information Request (SIR)
DCNS Proposal Evaluation
Final Investment Decision 1A
DCNS
En Route Specifications
En Route Automation Program Proposal Review
Final Investment Decision 1B
En Route Automation Enhancements
TDLS Critical Design Review
TDLS Development Testing
SEP 2008 P
DEC
FEB
APR
AUG P
SEP P
MAR
MAY
JUL
JUL
SEP
DCNS Acquisition requires Avionics Standards for both Segments 1 and 2
Extensible service – long term contract increases vendor interest
Jointly developing standards with Europe
Standards are gating item to commercial development of avionics
ERAM Acquisition systems performance details required from Avionics Standards development
Safety-critical service requirements
Alignment of resources with overall ERAM program development
Draft avionics standards for SC-214 Work Package 2 completed in Dec per the internal team challenge schedule.
OCT
JUN
DEC
MAR
JUN
SEP 9

10. Program Outreach – Avionics
Signed Agreements with Rockwell and Honeywell to spur early development of prototype SC-214 avionics
Manufacturers also providing fleet and market data
Participating in Boeing-NextGen agreement

11. Airspace User Outreach
Follow-up to RTCA NextGen Task Force 5 with interested airlines
Open one-on-one dialogue and create environment for two way communications
Airline benefits and business case
Service for equipage opportunities: Review operational scenarios where Data Comm can improve the efficiency of airline operation operations
Stand up Data Link Users Forum (DLUF) Ad Hoc Committee
Start to address technical and integration issues for initial services
American
Continental
United
FedEx
Delta/Northwest
Interested airlines include:
Continental (initial meeting in Dec 2009)
United (initial meeting in February 2010)
American (initial meeting in February 2010)
Delta/Northwest (initial meeting in February 2010)
FedEx (initial meeting in March 2010)
- By ATCA, team will have already meet with Continental, United, American, Delta, and FedEx.
Southwest (initial meeting to be scheduled)
- Team contacted Southwest (Perry Clausen) several times. He did not appear interested in doing the follow through to actually set up the requested Data Comm/Southwest meeting, so team moved on. Will invite Southwest to participate in ad hoc DLUF meeting. Should Southwest show interest, happy to schedule meeting as we have with airlines above. 11

12. DCNSD Acquisition Status
Data Communication Network Service (DCNS) to be procured through competitive service based acquisition
Released Draft Screening Information Request (SIR) 30 Sep 09
Received vendor responses 4 Nov
Prospective vendor one-on-one meetings
Releasing follow-on draft SIR 3Q FY10
Provide offerors greater detail on avionics and incentivization approach
SIR release expected FY 10
Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) and FAA Chief Financial Officer (CFO) review to complete prior to release 12

13. Overview: Notional Architecture