Download Next Generation Air/Ground Communication System

Next Generation Air/Ground
Communications System (NEXCOM)
Program Status Brief for ACP WG-C
Montreal, Canada
Jim Eck
Air/Ground Communications Team Lead
Technical Operations Communications
April 20, 2004
FEDERAL
AVIATION
ADMINISTRATION
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AIR
TRAFFIC
ORGANIZAT ION
National Airspace System
Air/Ground Communications Infrastructure
720 BUEC’s
Back up
Emergency
Communications
346
Airport
Towers
1422 RTR’s
Remote Transmitter
Receiver
793 RCAG’s
Remote
Communications
Air/Ground
175 TRACON’s
Terminal 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 ARTCC’s & 3
CERAP’s
Air Route Traffic Control Center,
Combined Center Radar Approach
Control
1854
RCO’s
61 AFSSs, 14 FSSs
Automated Flight Service Stations,
Flight Service Stations
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Remote
Communicatio
ns Outlet
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TRAFFIC
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Mission Need Statement #137

In 1995, DOT/FAA approves the Mission Need Statement for the
Next Generation A/G Communications System (NEXCOM).

Mission Need Statement #137
– Alleviate the spectrum congestion problem
– Reduce maintenance costs of radio systems
– Reduce A/G radio frequency (RF) interference and Increase
security/channel control
– Establish a communications path for data link for all users
– Provide flexibility for future growth of services
Need still valid - timing of investment being reconsidered
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Current Realities

9-11 / economics*
– Rule deferred

Spectrum congestion currently anticipated
– 2012 to 2016

Program funding
– Reduced in FY04
– Eliminated in FY05-07
– Restarted in FY08
* No International Agreement on Communications
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Planned Program Activities*

Continue Multimode Digital Radio program

Continue Avionics development

Interoperability Testing with Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB)

Joint Future Communication Study with EUROCONTROL

NAS Communications Evolution Plan

Spectrum Service Life Extension Program (SLEP)
* Subject to Executive Council Approval
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NEXCOM
Program Elements
Certified Avionics Development
Analog and digital voice/data
in a single cockpit radio
Multimode Digital Radio (MDR)
2 analog and 1 digital mode in one radio
Demo/Stakeholder Outreach
Ground System
MDR
Ground
Network
Interface
Radio
Interface
Unit
Rapid Preliminary Development Effort
and Full Scale Development
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Show NEXCOM system architecture
and commercial avionics viability
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TRAFFIC
ORGANIZAT ION
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Vocoder Certification

Vocoder certification to DO-178B level C
– Seattle and Wichita ACOs agree approach

Certification data package to ACO Mar 2004

First Reusable Software Component (RSC) certification package
– Can be used on other radio systems (e.g. satellite radios)
– Approved 14 April 2004

DVSI provide certification package
– Vocoder license, software and certification data package
– Direct delivery to manufacturers

Final certification part of radio certification
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Summary

US program funding long-lead items
– Multimode Digital Radio Deployment
– Avionics Development and Forward Fit

And exploring potential future interoperable communications
solutions.
– FAA/EUROCONTROL Future Communications Study
– US/Japan Interoperability Testing
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