ATN SYSTEMS, the industry consortium created to develop the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN), has picked an AlliedSignal-led team to develop the network "router". The team will provide the avionics and ground system equipment needed to support routing and operation of data communications services over the ATN.
Working with AlliedSignal to develop the Router Reference Implementation (RRI), are Honeywell, Sextant, Sofreavia, Thomson-CSF and Vertel. The US Federal Aviation Administration is working with ATN Systems to offer rapid and reliable information exchange, including air-traffic-control (ATC) instructions and engine-performance data,among pilots, controllers and airline operations worldwide.
ATN Systems, was started by 11 US air carriers, including United, Delta and Continental, although foreign airline participation is being sought.
The overall aim of ATN is to create a single network to handle the exchange of information between aircraft, ATC stations and eventually across the aviation industry. The messages are handled on the ground via the routed stations, development of which is being funded by the FAA and ATN Systems.
The ATN Router Project starts in December, with the final RRI products due for delivery by August 1998. Interface between the US ATN system and a similar European ATN development - called ProATN- is required.
An operational evaluation is scheduled for early 1999. In this test, air-traffic-data messages will be transmitted between pilots and controllers, using operational and certified aircraft avionics and FAA ground systems, over the ATN.
ATN Systems is also developing technical standards and test equipment for ATN.
Source: Flight International
