GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
FAA signs up Honeywell and Rockwell Collins in bid to relieve VHF spectrum congestion
Honeywell and Rockwell Collins are the first avionics manufacturers to sign agreements with the US Federal Aviation Administration for cost-sharing development of VHF datalink Mode 3 (VDL-3) air-to-ground radios.
Under the Next-generation Communications (Nexcom) programme, the FAA plans to make VDL-3 mandatory in US airspace by 2009 to relieve VHF spectrum congestion. Honeywell will develop an air-transport category VDL-3 radio based on its Quantum-series RTA-44D radio. Whereas the current radio provides analogue voice and 2.4kbit/s data, the VDL-3 will split each 25kHz VHF channel into four "virtual" channels for digital voice or data, typically two voice and two data, at 31.5kbit/s.
The FAA plans to sign agreements with multiple manufacturers to expedite demonstration/validation of VDL-3 ahead of a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to make the new radios mandatory. The NPRM is due to be released for comment in January 2004 with the final rule to be published in June 2005. Operators would be required to equip with VDL-3 by the end of 2009.
Honeywell estimates the regulation will affect 6,000 air transport aircraft, creating demand for 12,000 replacement radios worth $300 million. Around 170,000 regional airliners, business aircraft, helicopters and private aircraft will also be required to be equipped withVDL-3, the company estimates.
The cost-sharing agreements will provide manufacturers with funding support for avionics development and certification, and an opportunity to influence the rulemaking and be first to market. For the FAA, the agreements will ensure a manufacturing capability is in place to support VDL-3 equipage of multiple aircraft types when the rulemaking takes effect.
A proof-of-concept demonstration using Mitre-produced prototype equipment is planned for later this year to establish the feasibility of VDL-3. A year later, a second demonstration using vendor-supplied pre-production avionics and the ITT-produced ground multi-mode digital radio will establish Nexcom system architecture viability. Certificated avionics and aircraft installations are planned to be available in time for an operational system demonstration in late 2004.
The FAA believes VDL-3 will meet its requirements to 2030, but will not decide which datalink to use for air traffic control communications until 2004. The alternative is VDL Mode 2 with 8.33kHzchannel spacing. If VDL-3 does not look promising, the FAA plans to deploy 8.33kHz-capable ground radios from 2003.
Source: Flight International
