SITA, one of the world's leading providers of telecommunication systems to the air transport industry, is unveiling a number of new developments in the field of air-ground communications.
The company has expanded its Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) to provide VHF radio coverage in every country of the world by extending its Aircom ground station network to cover the USA, Canada and Jamaica.
This means SITA is the only air-ground service provider to offer customers a single interface to worldwide VHF data link services.
In the USA, Aircom is already operational at Dallas/Fort Worth, Miami, New Orleans, Orlando and Tampa. From January 2000, continuous coverage will be available at all major US airports.
SITA has also launched its VDL Aircom service using the ICAO VHF digital link to provide operators with a data rate 10 times faster than the current system. This enables SITA to meet the future needs of airlines for increased data link capacity and support plans by the US FAA and NAV Canada.
This capacity increase is urgently required as the latest Boeing and Airbus aircraft generate increasing amounts of air-ground data.
It will also provide a more robust datalink messaging service to link aircraft computers and flight crews with ground-based information systems and operational staff.
Typical users include flight tracking, engine and aircraft monitoring, pre-departure clearance, access to air traffic information services, surface weather information and other flight operations support.
Source: Flight Daily News
