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Choosing the right VHF data link
technology for commercial aviation air traffic services
by
Melwyn Savio Pereira
A thesis submitted to the
Faculty of the Graduate School of Engineering at the
University of Colorado in partial fulfillment
Of the requirement for the degree of
Master of Science
Telecommunications
May 2002
This thesis for the Master of Science degree by
Melwyn Savio Pereira
Has been approved for the Program in Telecommunications
By
Harvey Gates
Frank Barnes
Scott Savage
Gerald Mitchell
The final copy of this thesis has been
examined by the signatories, and we find both the content and the form meet acceptable
presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline.
Choosing the right VHF data link technology
for commercial aviation air traffic services.
Thesis directed by Dr. Harvey Gates.
The Very High
Frequency (VHF) Amplitude Modulation (AM) channel used for voice communications among air
traffic control and commercial airline pilots is congested. This contributes to National
Airspace System (NAS) system inefficiencies such as aircraft delays, diminishing airline
profits and most importantly a compromise in the safety of passengers and flight crew.
Although there are elaborate data linking designs in progress to address these problems
through concepts such as Free Flight, Satellite-based Air Traffic Management Systems,
etc., it could be years before a data link is implemented.
Because a data linking solution is critical to the safety and efficiency of
airline operations, VHF data link (VDL) technology should be immediately implemented to
provide effective and reliable communications between pilots and air traffic controllers.
The three competing digital data
link technologies are VDL modes 2, 3 & 4. VDL mode 2 and mode 3 are considered to be
primarily communications solutions while VDL mode 4 also offers surveillance capabilities.
First, VDL mode 2 provides a data rate that is ten (10) times faster than the current
ACARS system; however, it uses the carrier sense multiple access (CDMA) protocol to access
the channel. Second, VDL mode 3 (NEXCOM) has the ability to transmit and receive digital
voice and data through the time division multiple access protocol (TDMA). However, if it
were to transmit data exclusively, it would use the CSMA protocol. Lastly, VDL mode 4
provides digital data as well as provides a built-in surveillance capability. It uses the
self-organized time division multiple access (STDMA) protocol to access the media, which
is more efficient than CSMA for channel access. Also, it’s surveillance capabilities
allow future air traffic initiatives such as Free Flight to be seamlessly accommodated.
Consequently, VDL mode 4’s should be considered as the right data link technology for
commercial aviation air traffic services.
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Seach words: GPC Systems International AB, GNSS-Transponder, GNSS Transponder, GP&C Transponder, GPS-Transponder, STDMA data link, SOTDMA, ICAO VDL Mode 2, ICAO VDL Mode 3, ICAO VDL Mode 4, ADS-B broadcast, Surveillance, Mode S Squitter, GPS-Squitter, AMASS, ASDE, TCAS, CDTI, DGPS, DGNSS, GBAS, LAAS, ICAO/AMCP, RTCA Task Force 3, Free Flight Steering Committee, Flight 2000, CNS/ATM, NEAN, NEAP, NAAN, FARAWAY, SUPRA, MAGNET-B, FREER, PETALII, 4S Transponder, AIS transponder, Håkan Lans, Hakan Lans, Melwyn Savio Pereira, http://www.gpc.se, http://www.gpc.se