A HIGH-PERFORMANCE REPLACEMENT FOR CONGESTED COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
Air traffic management communications capacity is reaching saturation because of the increasing air-traffic volumes and density. The problem is most severe on the airport surface where the large concentration of aircraft is combined with pre-flight and post-flights operations, increasingly relying on communications such as VHF datalink.
AeroMACS is a high-performance secure airport data link technology identified by ICAO to support the future communication infrastructure (FCI). It provides a mature and validated choice to support the future air navigation service provider (ANSP), airline and airport authority datalink communication exchanges in the airport environment between mobile and fixed users, providing worldwide interoperability and integration of critical communications. SESAR 1 validated AeroMACS datalink access link integration with the aeronautical telecommunications network (ATN) to handle data and voice air/ground communications. SESAR 2020 expands this to include both open systems interconnection (ATN/OSI) and internet protocol suite (ATN/IPS), as well as voice over internet protocol (VoIP) digital voice communication and multilink in ATN/OSI environment. Multilink capability enables AeroMACS to be part of the FCI together with L-DACS and SATCOM.
SESAR 2020 carried out specific exercises to validate integration of these technologies using technical validation platforms. The tests exchanged controller-pilot messages using ATN/OSI), ATN/IPS, multilink exchanges and digital voice. They showed the AeroMACS access link provides better support to air traffic and airlines due to its large bandwidth and high throughput. It easily supports increasing levels of service on the airport surface and its security features offer valid protection against intentional attacks. It also benefits ANSPs and communication service providers due to the secure communication link and ability to support emerging services including controller pilot datalink communications (CPDLC); and airport authorities can use AeroMACS for additional applications such as emergency airport services, gate, luggage, airport service vehicles, etc.
The solution is available for industrialisation.
BENEFITS
High capacity data exchange
Worldwide interoperability
More efficient surface operations
DATAPACKS
