NEXCOM Next Generation Air/Ground Communications AEEC General Session December 2001 Jim Eck Air/Ground Communications Product Team Lead

2 NEXCOM Program Background NARC Recommendations & FAA Response Report on spectrum status –FAA to provide annual update of status & projected demand Continue to support VDL-2 development –FAA uses VDL-2 as incubator of datalink program and operational concept validation –FAA expects combined capacity of VDL-2 & VDL-3 required to meet RTCA Combined Operational Concept & OEP objectives Expedite system demo of VDL-3 in a certified system –FAA will demo a certifiable VDL-3 voice system and an interoperable data system by 2004 in advance of rule publication

3 NEXCOM Program Background NARC Recommendations & FAA Response Develop an alternative plan if VDL-3 proves untimely –FAA begins deployment of 8.33 capable radios in 2003 Lead development of common next generation communications system –FAA believes VDL-3 is next system through 2030 –FAA will work with ICAO to jointly study VHF architecture & critically review alternate band solutions as proposed

Operational System Demo NEXCOM System Demonstration Plan System Demo I Objective: Show VDL-3 technology is viable Demonstrates: Coverage Voice Quality Voice Override Integrated Voice and Data Objective: Show NEXCOM system architecture viability Demonstrates: Sector Handoffs ATN Network Interoperability System Management Commercial infusion Technology maturation Objective: Show commercial avionics certifiability and operational suitability Demonstrates: Operational digital voice Infosec capabilities Commercial avionics Human factors System Demo II System Demo I Equipment: Air: MITRE Prototype Ground: 99 Configuration ITT MDR with FAA Prototype RIU System Demo II Equipment: Air: MITRE & FAA Tech Center Prototypes Vendor Avionics (prototype) Ground: ITT MDR with FAA Prototype RIU Vendor Rapid Development equipment Operational System Demo Equipment: Air: Vendor Avionics Ground: ITT MDR with FAA Prototype RIU & GNI

NEXCOM Schedule Overview Demo MDR Ground System Avionics Rule Making 6/05-12/09 Airlines equip 6/05 VDL-3 Rule Published 7/01 Contract Award MDR deployment 10/03 System Demo II 10/04 Operational Demo 12/09 Operational 7/02 Prototype Contract Award 10/02 Characteristics Complete 1/04 NPRM 10/02 System Demo I 10/01 System Reqmnts Document 1/02 RTCA Principals of Use 10/02 In-Service Decision 8/04 Certified Aircraft 1/05 Full Scale Dev Contract Award Implementation 10/01 MOPS 8/03 Notice of Availability TSO Validation & Inter-Operability Tests with Airborne Avionics Analysis & rule writing

6 Avionics OTA 12/ AVIONICS MANUFACTURERS (Development/Test) 6/03 9/03 7/016/02 FAA VDL-3 TSO (AVR) Draft TSO Initiated Pub in Fed Register Disposition of Comments Complete Clearance Record Release 2/03 3/03 5/03 Disposition Closed AIR Internal Review 8/03 Notice of Availability (TSO) System Test & Integration Complete (contractor) Prelim Design Complete Prep/Sub Prelim SSA & Plan for SW Aspects of Cert 6/03 AVIONICS MANUFACTURERS (TSOA) 10/03 ACO Reviews TSO Data Pkg 11/03 TSOA AVIONICS MANUFACTURERS (Installation STC) 10/03 Prep/Submit Flight Test Plan & Balance of Design Approval Docs Pre-Production/Interoperable Avionics to WJHTC Submit Application for STC Conformity Insp & Install. Flight Test 12/03 STC 7/04 NEXCOM VDL-3 AVIONICS TIMELINE PD, SOW, OTA Template Available to Vendors 9/28/01 Discussions w/Manufacturers AEEC VDR Subcommittee 10/01 AEEC Char Available Standards/ Requirements MOPS SARPS 9/0110/01 SC 198 SPR Voice Interoperability Docs SC189 SPR Data 8/30/01 TSO Data Pkg to ACO Operational Apprvl (AFS) 20 Months 4/04 10/02 Submit to Legal Green Cover MOPS Available 4 Mos 6 Months 9/02 6/03 Legal Review 7/03 AGC Review 8/01 03 Demo - TC 04 Demo - Ops Site Certified Aircraft 10/038/ /04 5/02 10/02 9/13/01 PD (1st Industry Draft) 6/02 A Version MOPS Complete 2/04

7 NEXCOM Program Risks Issue: Certified Avionics availability Action Plan: –FAA/Airspace Users to collaborate on demo schedule & participation –FAA/Industry to develop partnership agreements to develop, install & test avionics –FAA/Users to provide in-kind support to demo operations Status: –System Architecture & Integration Committee work – complete –Characteristics development – pending AEEC General Session

8 NEXCOM Program Recommended Action: Approve initiation of VDL-3 characteristics development based upon existing 750 architecture