FAA's Next Generation Data Communications System

Talking with the Skies ITT EXELIS How Digital Communications Will Revolutionize Aviation The Move from Voice to Digital Real-Time Digital Data Transmission Means Less Typing, Less Waiting and Faster Flying Data Communications will enable our skies to handle more traffic, route airplanes more efficiently, reduce flight delays and enhance safety all while reducing operational costs for airspace users. Air traffic management today depends on outdated voice communications to relay a wide array of critical information between pilots and controllers. This system is labor intensive and time consuming and limits the ability of the U.S. to effectively meet future traffic demand, which is expected to rise to one billion passengers per year by 2011. To meet this challenge, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration under NextGen is building Data Communications - the first phase of the transition from the outdated analog voice system of today to the digital system of tomorrow, which will make flying safer, faster and greener. PRE-DEPARTURE AND DEPARTURE DESCENT AND LANDING VOICE SYSTEM: DIGITAL SYSTEM: VOICE SYSTEM: DIGITAL SYSTEM: Clearances can immediately Crews manually enter landing clearances and Crews manually enter lengthy Controllers upload instructions directly to pilots and flight management systems in real time. This process expedites VOICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OF TODAY DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM OF TOMORROW verbal pre-departure and be uploaded to a pilot's reroute instructions from runway changes into flight flight computer, providing O Faster Flying O Delays Time Consuming + Less Waiting Labor Error Less Fewer management computers. more efficient routes and controllers into flight manage- ment computers. This process Intensive Prone Typing Errors Miscommunication can lead departure, reduces taxi time and fuel burn, and increases to longer flight times, decreased flight capacity optimized profile descents, which reduces flight time and fuel consumption. takes time and can result in 631 MILLION PASSENGERS VS 1 BILLION PASSENGERS miscommunication. runway capacity. 2009 2021 and more fuel burned. CRUISE 1 VERBAL/DIGITAL COMMUNICATION METERING/ DESCENT 1 VERBAL 2 WAIT FOR 3 MANUAL ENTERING 2 DIGITAL DATA COMMUNICATION INSTRUCTIONS OF DATA RECEIVED INSTANTANEOUSLY DEPARTURE FINAL APPROACH TAKEOFF LANDING IN-FLIGHT WEATHER DISRUPTIONS VOICE SYSTEM: DIGITAL SYSTEM: 10011010100 VOICE SYSTEM: DIGITAL SYSTEM: Reroutes around bad weather A digital system delivers Large numbers of controllers and pilots communicating Critical information such are transmitted verbally to flight crews by air traffic control. This can be delayed by radio frequency congestion flight times and fuel cost routes around bad weather as in-air reroutes, advisories and flight crew requests can immediately be com- in real-time, resulting in improved safety, efficient at once can lead to radio CONTINUOUS frequency congestion and verbal message delays. One controller may be responsible pilots via digital transmis- for communicating with 20+ planes. STEP DESCENT DESCENT municated to all relevant and can result in miscom- savings. munication. sion, which reduces message delays and congestion. Benefits for Airspace Users FOR PILOTS FOR CONTROLLERS FOR PASSENGERS FOR AIRLINES B A B More Efficient Safer Clearer Communication More Efficient Safer Clearer Communication Fewer Delays Safer Faster Schedule Predictability Greener Increased Capacity ШЬ