Next Generation Air/Ground CommunicationsNext Generation Air/Ground Communications

(NEXCOM)(NEXCOM)

Briefing for

Seminar on Implementation of Data Link and SATCOM Communications

17-19 November 2003Bangkok, Thailand

Barbara CassidyFederal Aviation Administration

Integrated Product Team for Communications (AND-300)Barbara.Cassidy@faa.gov

2

Overview

• U.S. National Airspace System Air/Ground Communications Infrastructure

• Spectrum Needs• NEXCOM Acquisition

– What it includes– Why it is needed– Acquisition Program Elements

• Multimode Digital Radio• Ground System Segment• Avionics Development• System Demonstrations

• Notional Transition to NEXCOM• Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications Status

3

• VHF and UHF ATC bands• Approximately 11,000 VHF

assignments• Approximately 40,000 VHF

and 10,000 UHF TX, RX & TCVRs

• Dedicated networks for each operational environment

• Limited restoral capabilities• Limited remote maintenance

capability

National Airspace System Air/Ground Communications Infrastructure

61 AFSSs, 14 FSSs Automated Flight Service Stations, Flight Service Stations

21 ARTCC’s & 3 CERAP’sAir Route Traffic Control Center,Combined Center Radar Approach Control

793 RCAG’sRemote Communications Air/Ground

1854 RCO’sRemote

Communications Outlet

175 TRACON’sTerminal Radar Approach Control

1422 RTR’sRemote Transmitter Receiver

346AirportTowers

720 BUEC’sBack up Emergency

Communications

4

National Airspace System Air/Ground Communications Spectrum

Needs Projection

Projected Low Demand80 Circuits per yearFAA Baselined Program Plans

ProjectedCircuitSupply/Risk

2010

1000

15001500

2200

Projected High Demand:190 Circuits per year Long term historical trend

2007 2013

2015 2021

Initiating study to determine means/costs of extending to 2015

5

What is NEXCOM?

• FAA’s program to modernize and improve VHF air/ground communications in the National Airspace System (NAS)– Fundamental change from analog

to digital technology• VHF Digital Link Mode 3 (VDL-3)

– Time Division Multiple Access Technology– Maintains current 25 kHz frequency separation, but – Provides 4 non-interfering channels on 1 frequency– All channels suitable for voice or data

– Operates in the 118-137 MHz band allocated for Air Traffic use

• Impacts both ground and airborne elements of the NAS

6

Why NEXCOM?

• Capacity Up to 4x Increase in Channels– Spectrum Depletion Limits NAS Expansion

• Efficiency Provides for Data Link– Establishes a High Integrity Data Path – Broadcast and two-way datalink to meet future Concept of Operations

• Safety Digital System Allows Advanced Capabilities– Eliminates “Step On” (anti-blocking; urgent downlink)– Provides Stuck Microphone Resolution

• Infrastructure Sustainment– Average age 25+ years for ground radio equipment

7

NEXCOMAcquisition Program Elements

Demo/Stakeholder OutreachCertified Avionics Development

Multimode Digital Radio (MDR)

Analog & Digital modes in one radio

Ground System(RPDE and FSD)*

* Rapid Preliminary Development Effort and Full Scale Development

Analog & digital voice and datain a single cockpit radio

Show NEXCOM system architectureand commercial avionics viability

MDR

RadioInterface

UnitGroundNetworkInterface

8

NEXCOM Multimode Digital Radio (MDR)

• Compatible with today’s radios– Double Side Band-AM 25 kHz– 8.33 kHz – VDL Mode3– Interfaces to the future NEXCOM Ground System

• Replaces current NAS ITT & Motorola CM200 radios– Initial use is replacement of aging radio infrastructure

• Contract Awarded July 2001 to ITT

– Potential procurement of 37,600 radios

• Initial Operation Capability mid-2004– First use in 25 kHz analog mode (infrastructure replacement function)

• Transparent to users

9

NEXCOM Ground System Development

• Radio Interface Unit (RIU)– Provides remote site capability for

digital communications

• Ground Network Interface (GNI)– Provides connectivity for voice switches

• Two-Phase Development– Rapid Preliminary Development Effort (RPDE) (Mar 2002-Dec 2004)

• ITT Corp and Harris selected as vendors in Feb 2003

– Full Scale Development Program (FSDP) (Jan 2005-Dec 2007)

• Only RPDE vendors compete

• Equipment available for deployment beginning 2008– Initial use as infrastructure replacement of current Radio Control

Equipment (RCE)

VHF T/RRadio

InterfaceUnit

GroundNetworkInterface

10

NEXCOMAvionics Development

• Components• Multimode VHF radio• Radio Control Panel• Communications Management Unit

(optional)

• FAA/Manufacturer Agreements• Rockwell Collins, Honeywell – air carriers (December 2001)• Avidyne – general aviation (December 2001)• Rockwell Collins – business jets (August 2003)

• Agreements include cost sharing and payable events

• Pre-production models used in System Demonstration II (November 2003)

• Certified avionics commercially available in 2005

11

NEXCOM Near-Term Acquisition Schedule

FY 03 FY04

Jan Feb Mar Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec JanACTIVITY

Apr May Jun Feb

System Demo II 11/03

Ground SystemRPDE Contract Awards 02/03

System Requirements Review

System Design Review

05/03

11/03

MDRProduction Acceptance TestingFlight Coverage Testing

09/0310/03

AvionicsDraft VDL Mode 3 Characteristics

submitted to AEEC09/03

Interoperability Testing 06/03 08/03

Notice of Availability TSO03/04

Mar

Production Equipment Deployment 02/04

12

NEXCOM System Demonstrations

• Series of three demonstrations– Demo I, II at FAA Tech Center

– Demo III at location to be determined

• Objectives– Oct 2002: VDL Mode 3 Technology viability

– Nov 2003: NEXCOM Avionics & System Architecture

Interoperability

• Vendors provide pre-production avionics

– Oct 2004: Operational Suitability

• Support certification of commercial avionics

13

System Demonstration II

• Culmination of Interoperability Testing Activities

• Demonstrated the NEXCOM Avionics:– Commercial Viability– Affordability– Availability

• Held November 5th and 6th, ,2003– William J Hughes Technical Center in

Atlantic City, NJ

14

Circa 2018

• Expand Digital Voice (VDL-3) to all domains

• Expand Datalink Capacityin all domainsand all applications(VDL-2 & VDL-3)

Circa 2013

• Maintain Terminal Analog Voice

• Implement VDL-3Digital Voice

• Expand Datalink VDL-2Applications

Circa 2015

• Expand EnrouteDigital Voice (VDL-3)

• Initiate TerminalDigital Voice (VDL-3)

• Increase Datalink Capacity& Capability (VDL-2 & VDL-3)

• Analog Voice, 25 KHz

• Initial Datalink (VDL-2)

• Full Operational Evaluation& Exercise of Digital Voiceand Datalink (VDL-3)

Next 5 years

National Airspace SystemNotional Transition to Digital Communications

15

Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications Status

• Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC)– Build-1A Project being reworked

• User equipage too slow• Out of sync with En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM)

– Air Route Traffic Control Center automation program – CPDLC deployment ahead of ERAM would have resulted in need to

re-host CPDLC into ERAM

– Miami operational evaluation continues • In daily use by controllers and pilots• Continuing role as operational test bed

– Long term plans are being developed

– FAA remains committed to ATC Data Communications

Visit the FAA’s NEXCOM website:http://www1.faa.gov/nexcom/

17

Back Up Slides

18

• Test Pallet Configuration One VHF Digital Radio (VDR) One Radio Tuning Panel (RTP) One Communications Management Unit (CMU) Emulator Ancillary Equipment (Breakout Panels, etc.) Subnetwork - Uncompressed Connectionless Network

Protocol (CLNP)

• Significant Accomplishments Analog & Digital Voice Transmission & Reception 4V, 3V, and 2V2D Configurations Antiblocking Transmitter Timeout Next Channel Uplink Two User Groups On Same Frequency (Air-to-Air Testing) Timing State 1 (TS1), Timing State 2 (TS2), & Timing State 3 (TS3)

Honeywell – VDL AvionicsHoneywell – VDL Avionics

Controller Override Service Level Status Integrated Voice and Data

19

• Test Pallet Configuration– Two VHF Digital Radios (VDR) – Two Radio Tuning Panels (RTP) – One Communications Management Unit (CMU)– One Control Display Unit (CDU)– Ancillary Equipment (Speakers, Data Trac Recorder,

etc.) – Subnetwork - Raw 8208 (Packet Layer Protocol)

• Significant Accomplishments– 4V, 3V, and 2V2D Configurations – Analog & Digital (VDL Mode 3) Voice Transmission &

Reception Verified – Controller Override – Next Channel Uplink – Antiblocking – Urgent Downlink Request – Two User Groups On Same Frequency

Service Level Status TS1, TS2, TS3 Stuck Microphone

Resolution Integrated Voice and Data CPDLC Data Transfer

Rockwell Collins – VDL AvionicsRockwell Collins – VDL Avionics

20

• Test Pallet Configuration– One VHF Digital Radio (VDR) – Laptop Casing (Shock Mount) – Diagnostics Laptop – Ancillary Equipment (Speakers, power strips, etc)– Subnetwork - Compressed CLNP

• Significant Accomplishments– 4V, 3V, and 2V2D Configurations – Analog & Digital Voice Transmission & Reception Verified – Two User Groups On Same Frequency– Next Channel Uplink – Urgent Downlink Request – Controller Override – Antiblocking Transmit Status

Stuck Microphone Resolution

TS1, TS2, TS3 Integrated Voice and Data

Avidyne – VDL AvionicsAvidyne – VDL Avionics

21

ICAO identified

VHF congestion

problem

RTCA/AEEC selected technical

characteristics for

VDL2/3

DOT/FAA approved

the Mission Needs

Statement for NEXCOM

ICAOCOM/OPS/DIV

Meeting approved VDL-3

for future communications

Investment Analysis

completed, VDL-3 selected as FAA solution

FAA/MITRE VDL-3

radio prototype tested

RTCA & ICAO recommended

future A/G communication

system be TDMA VDL-3

RTCA initiated

SC-172 to develop

solution; VDL MASP started

ICAO/JCAB/EuroControl/UK/

FRG/FAA complete

VDL-3 SARPs validation

1990

1991

1995

1994

1993

1997

1998

1999

ICAO AMCP recommends approval of

VDL-3

FAA JRC approves new

NEXCOM VDL-3

Program Baseline

2000

NEXCOMAviation

Rulemaking Committee

(NARC)Report

2001

RTCA publishes NEXCOMPrinciples

ofOperations -

VDL-3 Specific

2002

NEXCOM History

22

Acronyms

AEEC Airlines Electronics Engineering Committee NOA Notice of AvailabilityARTCC Air Route Traffic Control Center NPRM Notice of Proposed RulemakingASP Acquisition Strategy Paper OEP Operational Evolution PlanBUEC Back Up Emergency Communications OTA Other Transaction AuthorityCA Contract Award RCAG Remote Communications Air/GroundCERAP Combined Center Radar Approach Control RCO Remote Communications OutletDLAP Data Link Application Processor RTR Remote Transmitter ReceiverERAM EnRoute Automation Modernization RPDE Rapid Preliminary Development EffortFAT Factory Acceptance Test RIU Radio Interface UnitFSDP Full Scale Development Program SAT Site Acceptance TestGNI Ground Network Interface SC Special CommitteeICAO International Civil Aviation Organization SIR Screening Information RequestIOC Initial Operational Capability SRD System Requirements DocumentIPP Integrated Program Plan STC Supplemental Type CertificateISD In-Service Decision TDMA Time Division Multiple AccessJRC Joint Resource Council TSO Technical Standard OrderMDR Multi-Mode Digital Radio TSOA Technical Standard Order AuthorizationMOPS Minimum Operational Performance Standards VDL VHF Digital Link