Data Communications (Data Comm)
Data Communications (Data Comm) will assume an ever increasing role in controller to flight crew communication, contributing significantly to increased efficiency, capacity, and safety of the National Airspace (NAS). The evolution of Data Comm in the operational environment will be based upon the incremental implementation of advanced communication capabilities. Data Comm represents the first phase of the transition from the current analog voice system to an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) compliant system in which digital communication becomes an alternate and eventually predominant mode of communication.
In today’s national airspace system, air traffic control depends on voice communications to relay a wide array of critical information between air crews and controllers. The use of voice communication is labor intensive and limits the ability of the NAS to effectively meet future traffic demand.
Data Comm will provide comprehensive data connectivity, including ground automation message generation and receipt, message routing and transmission, and aircraft avionics requirements. Data Comm will automate repetitive tasks, supplement voice communications with less workload-intensive data communications, and enable ground systems to use real-time aircraft data to improve traffic management efficiency. Initially, data communications will be a supplemental means for two-way exchange between controllers and flight crews for air traffic control clearances, instructions, advisories, flight crew requests and reports. As data communications becomes the new method of operation, the majority of air/ground exchanges will be handled by data communications for appropriately equipped users. Automated Data Communications technologies will support and enhance the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Once implemented, Data Communications and NextGen will enable air traffic control to issue complex clearances to a pilot and the aircraft’s flight management system via electronic data transfer instead of time consuming voice transmission.
Data Comm, integrated with a portfolio of tools, enables advanced NextGen operations not possible using the current voice Air Traffic Control system. 4-D trajectory management is the core NextGen concept for Air Traffic Management. 4-D trajectories are exchanged via data communications between aircraft/aircraft operators and ground automation systems, resulting in improved flight times and increased NAS throughput.
The operations and services enabled by Data Comm will allow air traffic controllers to manage more traffic, increase the capacity of the NAS, increase airspace user efficiency, and enhance safety, while constraining operational costs for airspace users and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Data Comm CONOPS