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Helping ANSPs prepare for EU Data Link Services Implementation Rule
The Implementing Rule on Data Link Services, adopted recently by the European Commission, mandates the introduction of Controller Pilot Data Link Communication services over an ATN/VDLm2 infrastructure for the upper airspace of the western half of Europe by 2013, extending to the rest of the European Union upper airspace by 2015.
In anticipation of this legislation, SITA has developed a set of products and services designed to support ANSPs in complying with the applicable elements of the rule. A comprehensive ground-based infrastructure of VDLm2 radio stations fully compliant to the EUROCONTROL Link 2000+ baseline has already been deployed, along with a fully operational air/ground ATN routing facility that supports the exchange of CPDLC messages between suitably equipped aircraft and ground-based ATC centres.
ANSPs can leverage the benefits of SITA's proven ATN/VDLm2 infrastructure in two different ways:
- 'Build' option: SITA deploys VDLm2 infrastructure on behalf of an ANSP. This infrastructure is then transferred to the ANSP, which owns and operates the service under the SITA brand.
- 'Buy' option: SITA provides the ANSP with a fully-managed ATN service for a competitive monthly fee. SITA takes care of the deployment of required ground station infrastructure, and backs the service with rigorous SLAs.
SITA also offers a Data Link Front End Processor (DL-FEP) that shields flight data processing systems from the intricacies of air/ground protocols and provides a seamless interface to aircraft, regardless of whether they operate CPDLC over ATN/VDLm2 or over FANS. SITA, together with EGIS AVIA, has already been contracted to deliver DL-FEPs by EUROCONTROL for the Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre (MUACC), and by DFS Germany for its Karlsruhe ACC. The DL-FEP has been delivered according to the stringent software quality assurance levels required for operational ATC use, as defined by EUROCONTROL standards.
To further help ANSPs make the transition, SITA operates an extensive test facility comprising ATN/VDLm2 avionics, an air/ground VDLm2 radio, ATN routers and data link front end processors. This test facility, which can be accessed from SITA premises or remotely through SITA's global network, offers ANSPs the ability to prepare and validate their plans for ensuring compliance with the Data Link Implementing Rule.
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