Patrick Geurts, Senior Manager, Air Traffic Solution Business Development, spoke on European Data Link Challenges at World ATM Congress 2014

1. European Data
Link Challenges
WAC Aviation Arena
4/Mar/2014
By: Patrick GEURTS, Senior Manager
ATM Business Development

2. 2 | European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014
Contents
1. Quick Historical View
2. Implementing ATN/VDLm2 in Europe
3. The Challenges associated with the
Implementing Rule
4. Conclusion

3. Quick Historical
View
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4. • SITA:
• Operating the AIRCOM data link services for 25+
years
• Initially based on ACARS
• In support to AOC
• European Data Link Mandate
• Introducing CPDLC/ATN in European upper
airspace
• Based on VDLm2
• Sharing the same infrastructure for AOC and ATC
• Challenges
4
Introduction
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014

5. 5
A/G Data Link for AOC Purpose
Airline Operations depend on Data Link
Aircraft Maintenance
Engine reports via ACARS
enable preventive
maintenance avoiding
costly in-flight breakdowns
Operations Control
Aircraft movement
reports
via ACARS key to
synchronize operations
through airports
Flight Planning
Flight plans & weather
transmission to
cockpit
enable efficient
operation
of modern aircraft
Airline Operations have already made the
transition to Data Link
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014

6. 6
SITA support for FANS & ATN
• 1995 : SITA supports
FANS-1 usage since first
certification
• 2000 SITA deploys VDL
capability developed in
1990’s
• 2005 SITA adds
operational ATN routers for
Eurocontrol
• 2008 SITA is ATN/VDLm2
CSP for Eurocontrol
Maastricht
• SITA has VDL
partnerships with ANSP’s of
Germany, France,
Switzerland, Spain,
Portugal, Saudi Arabia.
ATC Center Airline
FANS CPDLC/
ACARS/VDL
ICAO CPDLC/
ATN VDL
ATN
Router
ACARS
Processor
AOC
ACARS/
VDL
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014

7. SITA VDLm2 Coverage in Europe
VDL service delivered:
• in Spain through
partnership with AENA
• in Germany through
partnership with DFS
• in France through
partnership with DSNA
• in Portugal through
partnership with NAV
Portugal
• In Switzerland through
partnership with
Skyguide
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8. Implementing
ATN/VDLm2 in
Europe
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9. 9
Contents
1. Quick Historical View
2. Implementing ATN/VDLm2 in Europe
3. The Challenges associated with the
Implementing Rule
4. Conclusion
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014

10. VGS Partnership Model
Win / Win Approach
- SITA outsources the provision of its
A/G communication service (AOC, ATC)
to the ANSP
- SITA contributes to the ANSP costs for
operating the A/G infrastructure
- The ANSP deploys a state-of-the art A/G
datalink communication infrastructure at a
fraction of the costs it would sustain if
developed from scratch
- The ANSP owns and operates the
infrastructure and
develops its know-how
- The ANSP receives a cost contribution that
is directly linked to the volume of AOC traffic
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11. 11
ATN Service Model
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12. The Challenges
associated with
the
Implementing
Rule
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13. 13
The Challenges associated with the
Mandate
VDLm2 multifrequency
Testing and
Certifying
Performance/PAs
AOC/ATC
Co-existence
Non-AOC
Operators
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14. Performance / PAs
14
 ATN Provider Abort: investigation within Data Link
Implementation Service Group (Eurocontrol CRO, ANSP,
CSP, airlines, aircraft and avionics manufacturers)
 Detected and investigated since the early implementation of
ATN CPDLC during LINK2000+ PSG meeting, now DLISG.
 Several problems have been confirmed and corrected (CSP
radio or network, VDR Deafness, CMU software)
 New problems appear and require further investigations.
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014

15. Performance / PAs
15
• An agreed service monitoring scope is required – taking
into account the complete end to end service delivery
chain
 Role of the Central Reporting Office
 Harmonization of indicators, their metrics and the reporting
process
• If investigations indicate frequency congestion, then
stakeholders may consider to expedite multi frequency in
Europe
• This is a dynamically changing ecosystem
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16. Certification Framework
16
• ATC usage of data link requires aviation certification authority
intervention
• European Aviation Safety Agency plans to certify ATC use of VHF data link and
in some way the VHF data link networks used – impact is unclear
• Regulatory framework (i.e. Regulation 552/2004) applies to ATC Components or
systems, but what about a service?
• ATC usage can create liabilities that cannot be sustained or
justified by airline community VHF data link network operators
• ANSP’s often need to comply with government policy on contractual liability
which may be incompatible with airline community network operator policies
• Better certification harmonization is required at European Levels
• Avoid contradicting national requirements
• Streamline and optimize the certification process
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17. Other Challenges
17
• How to reach non-AOC aircraft?
 Rules of Engagement defined by the Link 2000+ Program
 Need to raise awareness of non-AOC aircraft Operators
• VDL Multi-frequency
 CSC Channel loading is increasing but still low (av. ~ 10%)
 If investigations conclude CSC congestion, then stakeholders may
consider to expedite multi frequency in Europe
 Deployment of multi frequency will require close cooperation between
all operators
• Tight Schedule – Limited Resources
 The next deadline, February 2015, is around the corner
 All ANSPs in the 2015 group are knocking at the door
 We have to address requests in sequence
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014

18. Conclusions
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19. • Real time monitoring of the end to end service should be done/coordinated at
European level
• Certification and performance requirements imposed by ATC usage of VDL
should be harmonized in Europe
• Airlines and ANSPs need to recognize that ATC usage of VDL will
fundamentally change the VHF data link network operation
• ATC sharing of VDL avionics is a compromise – it avoids airlines needing
additional avionics but the resulting sharing of VDL channels and stations
requires the networks to change to meet ATC requirements
• SITA is keen to continue the collaboration to further investigate VDL / ATN
issues, but it must be a joint effort from all communication operators (CSPs
and ANSPs) as well as other parties like airframers and avionic vendors
19
Conclusion
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014

20. Thank You!
20
PSBD/ACS
| European Data Link Challenges| WAC 4 Mar 2014 | © SITA 2014