Germany’s air navigation service provider (ANSP), Deutsche Flugsicherung (DFS), has agreed to buy the SITA network of 27 VHF datalink (VDL) ground stations in the country. In another move toward the regionalization of communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS) services, SITA and Airservices Australia are developing a plan to deploy a 100-strong network of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) ground stations throughout southeast Asia.
The DFS deal is regarded as a preliminary step in the anticipated consolidation of European ANSPs triggered by the European Commission’s move toward a single European sky and the reorganization of upper airspace into cross-border functional airspace blocks. The deal will enable DFS to provide ATC-oriented controller-pilot datalink communications through its own network, while ACARS-style airline operations control (AOC) traffic will be transferred seamlessly to and from the global SITA network, with the ANSP sharing a portion of the revenue. The transaction is worth a total of $1.8 million (E1.4 million).
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