Contractors Eye Data Comm Program as Standards Evolve

The competition is under way to provide air-ground data communications in U.S. domestic airspace

A multifunction control display unit mounted in an aircraft cockpit shows a controller-pilot datalink communications message. (Photo: FAA)

October 10, 2011

The competition is under way to provide air-ground data communications in U.S. domestic airspace, a key piece of the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). At the same time, the FAA has asked its NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) to recommend a data communications “roadmap” through 2030, taking into account different datalink standards. Airbus and Boeing have weighed in with a joint letter opposing an incremental standard that would align U.S. and European systems in the short term.

Responses to a request for offers for the FAA’s Data Communications Integrated Services (DCIS) acquisition came due in early October. The program, which plans to award a contract in 2012, seeks a contractor to provide ground-to-ground and air-to-ground segments of a data network between ATC service points and data comm-equipped aircraft. AIN has verified that Harris and ITT stand among DCIS bidders. Harris serves as prime contractor of the FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure, the network supporting voice, data and video communications at 4,000 FAA and Department of Defense facilities. ITT is building the ground infrastructure for automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), a nationwide network of radio stations.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.