AIE

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Next Generation Air/Ground Communications (NEXCOM)
Briefing for Seminar on Implementation of Data
Link and SATCOM Communications 17-19 November
2003 Bangkok, Thailand
Barbara Cassidy Federal Aviation
Administration Integrated Product Team for
Communications (AND-300) Barbara.Cassidy_at_faa.gov
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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

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National Airspace System Air/Ground
Communications Infrastructure
346AirportTowers
720 BUECsBack up Emergency Communications
1422 RTRsRemote Transmitter Receiver
793 RCAGsRemote Communications Air/Ground
175 TRACONsTerminal Radar Approach Control

• 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

21 ARTCCs 3 CERAPsAir Route Traffic Control
Center,Combined Center Radar Approach Control
1854 RCOsRemote Communications Outlet
61 AFSSs, 14 FSSs Automated Flight Service
Stations, Flight Service Stations
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National Airspace System Air/Ground
Communications Spectrum Needs Projection
Projected High Demand 190 Circuits per year
Long term historical trend
2200
Projected Circuit Supply/ Risk
1500
1000
2015
2021
2013
2007
2010
Projected Low Demand 80 Circuits per yearFAA
Baselined Program Plans
Initiating study to determine means/costs of
extending to 2015
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What is NEXCOM?

• FAAs 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

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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

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NEXCOMAcquisition Program Elements
Ground System (RPDE and FSD)
Multimode Digital Radio (MDR)
Analog Digital modes in one radio
Rapid Preliminary Development Effort and Full
Scale Development
Demo/Stakeholder Outreach
Certified Avionics Development
Analog digital voice and datain a single
cockpit radio
Show NEXCOM system architectureand commercial
avionics viability
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NEXCOM Multimode Digital Radio (MDR)

• Compatible with todays 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

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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)

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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

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NEXCOM Near-Term Acquisition Schedule
FY 03
FY04
ACTIVITY
MDR
Jan
Feb
Mar
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Apr
May
Jun
Feb
Mar
09/03
Production Acceptance Testing
10/03
Flight Coverage Testing
02/04
Production Equipment Deployment
Ground System
02/03
RPDE Contract Awards
05/03
System Requirements Review
11/03
System Design Review
Avionics
11/03
System Demo II
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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

01010101001
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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

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National Airspace SystemNotional Transition to
Digital Communications
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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

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Visit the FAAs NEXCOM website http//www1.faa.go
v/nexcom/
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Back Up Slides
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Honeywell VDL Avionics

• 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)

• Controller Override
• Service Level Status
• Integrated Voice and Data

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Rockwell Collins VDL Avionics

• 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

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Avidyne VDL Avionics

• 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

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NEXCOM History

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
NEXCOM Aviation Rulemaking Committee
(NARC) Report
2001
1991
1994
1997
1999
2002
1990
1995
1993
1998
2000
ICAO AMCP recommends approval of VDL-3
DOT/FAA approved the Mission Needs Statement
for NEXCOM
RTCA publishes NEXCOMPrinciples
ofOperations - VDL-3 Specific
ICAO identified VHF congestion problem
RTCA/AEEC selected technical characteristics
for VDL2/3
Investment Analysis completed, VDL-3 selected
as FAA solution
FAA JRC approves new NEXCOM VDL-3 Program
Baseline
ICAO COM/OPS/DIV Meeting approved VDL-3 for
future communications
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Acronyms