SN Brussels Airlines is to take part in a 2006 trial of requesting and receiving its individual aircraft ground movement clearances, such as pushback and taxi, by datalink at Brussels Zaventem airport. Using on-board VHF datalink Mode 2 (VDL-2) equipment to carry out controller/pilot datalink communication (CPDLC) on the ground, the airline will be part of a Eurocontrol trial, dubbed D-TAXI, with Belgocontrol, communications network provider Sita, and Dutch national research organisation NLR. The airline intends to equip its entire fleet with VDL-2 CPDLC capability and train all its pilots in its use.
Source: Flight International
