AIE

1
NEXCOM Next Generation Air/Ground Communications
Briefing Presented to AMCP Working Group
M Montreal, Canada December 16, 2002 James T.
Eck Air/Ground Communications Product Team
Lead Federal Aviation Administration
2
NEXCOM Acquisition Program Elements
Ground System
3
NEXCOM Schedule
2001
2003
2004
2009
2005
2002
2006
2007
2008
System Demo Program
10/03 System Demo II
10/04 Operational Demo
10/02 System Demo I
Multimode Digital Radio
MDR deployment
5/03 Begin Deployment
7/01 Contract Award
07-12 Implementation
Validation Inter-Operability Tests with
Airborne Avionics
GroundSystem
11/02 RPDE Source Selection
10/01Sys Reqs Doc
10/07 Keysite
12/09Operational
10/02 Strawman Characteristics Complete
9/03AEEC Apprvd Char.
8/03Notice of Availability TSO
9/03AEEC Approved Char.
8/03Notice of Availability TSO
Avionics
8/04 CertifiedAircraft
10/01MOPS
12/01GIAs
6/05-12/09 Aircraft equip
6/03 Begin Formal Internal Coordination
Rule Making
6/04 Initiate Final Rule
6/05 Rule Published
1/04 NPRM
4
National Airspace SystemTransition to Digital
Communications
Enroute High Airspace
VDL-3Link
0101010100110010101
0101010100110010101
0101010100110010101
01010101001
VDL-2 Datalink
0101
01010101001
RCAG
10011001011010101
Analog Voice
ARTCC
01010
AFSS
National Airspace
Terminal Airspace
5
NASData Link Transition

• FAA views VDL Mode 2 and VDL Mode 3 as
  complementary, not competing technologies
• CPDLC initially will be fielded on VDL-2
• Only viable technology in required time
  (2005-2006)
• Stepping stone for data link use in air traffic
  control
• FAA pays ATC message charges
• CPDLC available on VDL-3 in 2012
• Potential for other applications (e.g. weather)
  on VDL-3
• Datalink applications still available to VDL-2
  service providers
• Users would pay any associated message charges
• VDL-2 remains essential for the purpose it was
  developed
• AOC and other air traffic management functions
• FAA does not plan to provide AOC-type information
  on VDL-3

6
International Harmonization
FAA strongly supports the 1995 ICAO
COM/OPS/DIV decision for digital, TDMA-based
voice and data link as the future air/ground
communications technology