Next Generation Air/Ground CommunicationsNext Generation Air/Ground Communications

(NEXCOM)(NEXCOM)Presented to

ATN 2002London, England

25 September 2002

James H. WilliamsCommunications Integrated Product Team Lead

Federal Aviation Administration

2

Overview

• NEXCOM Acquisition Program Update

– Program Objectives

– Program Elements

– Transition to NEXCOM

• NEXCOM Voice Features

– Basic Voice

– Enhanced Voice

• NEXCOM Data Link Transition

3

NEXCOM Objectives

National Airspace System Infrastructure Sustainment

National Airspace System Infrastructure Modernization

1422 RTRs

61 AFSSs, 14 FSSs

793 RCAGs

1854 RCOs

175 TRACONs

346 Towers720 BUECs

4

NEXCOM Acquisition Program Elements

System Demo ProgramAvionics

Multimode Digital Radio

Analog & digital modes in one radio Digital capability

Ground SystemVHF T/R

RadioInterface

Unit

GroundNetworkInterface

Analog & digital in single cockpit radio

Show NEXCOM system architecture and commercial

avionics viability

5

NEXCOM Multimode Digital Radio

6

NEXCOM Ground System Segment

Voice Switch

Voice2V2D ConfigurationGNI

DLAP

ATN Router

Data

Data

CombinedVoice & Data

Avionics

RCAG

VHF Tx/Rx M/S

RadioInterface

UnitUHF Tx/RxM/S

BUEC

VHF Tx/Rx

UHFTx/Rx

RadioInterface

Unit

CMU

Voice

Data

7

NEXCOM Avionics

FAA/Manufacturer Agreements

Airlines Airlines

GeneralAviation

BusinessAviation

8

NEXCOM System Demonstration Program

Objectives

– Oct 02: VDL Mode 3 Technology viability

– Oct 03: NEXCOM Architecture feasibility

– Oct 04: Operational suitability

9

National Airspace SystemTransition to NEXCOM

Dem/ValDem/Val

• Analog Voice, 25 KHz

• Initial Datalink (VDL-2)

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

Next 5 years

VDL-2 Datalink

AnalogVoice

5-10 years

• Maintain Terminal Analog Voice

• Implement VDL-3Digital Voice

• Expand Datalink VDL-2Applications

Enroute High Airspace

National Airspace

RCAGARTCC

VDL-3Link

10-15 years

• Expand EnrouteDigital Voice (VDL-3)

• Initiate TerminalDigital Voice (VDL-3)

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

TerminalAirspace

15-20 years

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

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

AFSS

10

NEXCOMKey Basic Voice Features

• Anti-Blocking

– Resolution for stepped-on transmissions

• Controller Override

– Controller can preempt ongoing aircraft transmission

for urgent control message

– Resolution for aircraft “stuck mike”

11

NEXCOMKey Enhanced Voice Features

• Enhanced Voice features require a context

management application to enable the system to

identify specific aircraft

• Next Frequency– Uplink of next frequency for pilot concurrence/action

– Coupled with CPDLC transfer of communications

• Urgent Downlink Request– Cockpit-generated data message to controller that pilot has

an urgent transmission to make

12

NEXCOMData Link Transition

• Increased use of data link is essential to increasing the capacity of the NAS

• CPDLC is FAA’s application for air traffic control messages

• FAA views VDL Mode 2 and VDL Mode 3 as complementary, not competing technologies

• CPDLC Build 1 and 1a initially will be fielded on VDL-2

– Only viable technology in required time (2005 NAS-wide)

– Stepping stone for data link use in air traffic control

13

NEXCOMData Link Transition

• Growth in CPDLC Use– Increases system and user benefits but

– Also drives up FAA costs

• CPDLC on VDL-3 means– Predictable costs to FAA

– No added service costs to users

• Continued availability of CPDLC on VDL-2– Independence of networks a safety backup benefit

– FAA could not continue to fund message costs

14

Discussion

15

Spectrum Depletion

The FAA predicts VHF Spectrum Saturation in the National Airspace System by 2009

16

Frequency Congestion Cost and Efficiency Implications

5

10

15

20

25

1998 2003 2008 2013 2018 2023 2028

Year

Cir

cu

its

(1

00

0s

)

Increasing Cost and Difficulty of Provisioning New Circuits

Unsatisfied DemandReduces NAS Efficiency

Historically, circuit growth hasbeen 4% per year.

Increasing cost/difficulty of placing new circuits reduces growth rate.

Reduced growth rate implies a less-efficient NAS.

Growth in A/G Circuit Demand

# Deployed A/G Circuits

23 spectrum recovery initiatives (ASR)

17

NEXCOM System Architecture

Voice Switch

Voice2V2D ConfigurationGNI

DLAP

ATN Router

Data

Data

CombinedVoice & Data

Avionics

RCAG

VHF Tx/Rx M/S

RadioInterface

UnitUHF Tx/RxM/S

BUEC

VHF Tx/Rx

UHFTx/Rx

RadioInterface

Unit

CMU

Voice

Data

18

System Demo IEquipment• Air: MITRE Prototype• Ground:

• ‘99 Configuration• ITT MDR with FAA

Prototype RIU

Oct 02 Oct 03 Oct 04

Operational System Demo

SystemDemo I

Objective: Show VDL-3

technology is viable

Demonstrates:• Coverage• Voice Quality• Voice

Override• Integrated

Voice and Data

Objective:Show NEXCOM

system architecture viability

Demonstrates:• Sector

Handoffs• ATN Network

Interoperability• System

Management• Commercial

infusion• Technology

maturation

Objective:Show

commercial avionics certifiability and operational suitability

Demonstrates:• Operational

digital voice• Commercial

avionics• Human factors

SystemDemo II

System Demo IIEquipment• Air:

• MITRE & FAA Tech Center Prototypes• Vendor Avionics (prototype)

• Ground: • ITT MDR with FAA Prototype

RIU• DoD Participation• Air Carrier Participation

Operational System Demo

Equipment• Air: Vendor Avionics• Ground:

• ITT MDR with FAA Prototype RIU & GNI

• DoD Participation• Air Carrier Participation

NEXCOMSystem Demonstration Program

19

NEXCOM Schedule

2001 2003 2004 200920052002 2006 2007 2008

System DemoProgram

10/03SystemDemo II

10/04OperationalDemo

10/02SystemDemo I

MultimodeDigitalRadio

7/01Contract Award

MDR deployment

10/02In-ServiceDecision

RuleMaking 1/04

NPRM1/02

RTCAPrinciples of

Operation

6/03Begin

Formal InternalCoordination

6/04Initiate Final Rule

6/05Rule Published

8/03Notice ofAvailability TSO

9/03AEECApprovedChar.

Avionics 10/02Draft

CharacteristicsComplete

8/04CertifiedAircraft

10/01MOPS

12/09Operational

6/05-12/09 Aircraft equip

GroundSystem 10/02

RPDEContract Award

10/01Sys Reqs

Doc

1/05Full Scale Dev Contract Award

07-12 ImplementationValidation & Inter-Operability Tests

with Airborne Avionics4/02SIR

Release

10/07Keysite

5/02FAT

8/03Notice ofAvailability TSO

9/03AEECApprvdChar.

12/01GIAs

5/03Begin

Deployment