The European Space Agency (ESA) and an Alcatel-led European consortium plan to launch demonstrations of a new air traffic management (ATM) communication system in the second half of next year.
The Satellite Data Link System (SDLS) is designed to bring advanced safety communications to high-density airspace, says ESA. Feasibility studies have been underway since 1994.
When the project was launched it was originally intended for land mobile communication applications, but as the present very high frequency (VHF) channels used by aviation have become increasingly congested, a potential for that market was identified, says Claude Loisy, ESA's SDLS project manager. The SDLS will link cockpit crews with ATM on the ground.
The first demonstration phase will involve tests of ground-based prototype aircraft equipment, to be followed by airborne tests involving commercial airliners, with Alitalia indicating an interest, says Loisy.
The European consortium of space, hardware, software and integration companies includes Alcatel as prime contractor, SEMA Group and Indra of Spain, France's Thales ATM, Italy's Vitrociset, AirTel of Ireland and Skysoft of Portugal. The system could use a variety of satellites, including Inmarsats, Eutelsats and ESA's Artemis, says Loisy.
Present measures to increase VHF capacity will not be sufficient on their own to cope with the large growth forecasts in high density traffic areas, says ESA. A short-term solution to Europe's capacity problems was implemented last year by reducing VHF channel-spacing to 8.33kHz in the core area of Europe, although this is only expected to cater for demand up to about 2007.
Meanwhile, a US Government/industry group is considering communications options. The next generation air-to-ground communications systems study, which includes investment and cost/benefit analysis of candidate systems, is due to be published next month.
Source: Flight International
