1. NEXCOM Next Generation Air/Ground Communications
                 
            
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

4. Operational System Demo
NEXCOM System Demonstration Plan
System
Demo I
System
Demo II
Operational System Demo
System Demo I
Equipment:
Air: MITRE Prototype
Ground:
‘99 Configuration
ITT MDR with FAA Prototype RIU
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
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 4

5. NEXCOM Schedule Overview
2001
2003
2004
2009
2005
2002
2006
2007
2008
Demo
10/02
System
Demo I
10/03
System
Demo II
10/04
Operational
Demo
MDR
MDR deployment
7/01
Contract Award
10/02 In-Service
Decision
Ground System
Validation & Inter-Operability Tests
with Airborne Avionics
7/02
Prototype
Contract Award
10/01 System Reqmnts
Document
1/05
Full Scale Dev Contract Award
07-12 Implementation
12/09 Operational
10/02
Characteristics
Complete
8/03 Notice of
Availability
TSO
Avionics
10/01 MOPS
8/04
Certified Aircraft
6/05-12/09 Airlines equip
Rule
Making
Analysis & rule writing
6/05
VDL-3 Rule Published
1/02
RTCA Principals of Use
1/04
NPRM

6. NEXCOM VDL-3 AVIONICS TIMELINE
2001
2002
2003
2004
FAA VDL-3 TSO
(AVR)
Record Release
Clearance
Disposition of Comments Complete
Notice of Availability
(TSO)
Draft TSO Initiated
Submit to Legal
Legal Review
Pub in Fed Register
Disposition Closed
AIR Internal Review
AGC Review
7/01
6/02
9/02
10/02
2/03
5/03
7/03
4 Mos
3/03
6/03
8/03
AVIONICS
MANUFACTURERS
(Development/Test)
System Test & Integration
Complete (contractor)
Pre-Production/Interoperable Avionics to WJHTC
PD, SOW, OTA Template
Available to Vendors
Prelim Design Complete
‘04 Demo -
Ops Site
PD (1st Industry Draft)
‘03 Demo - TC
Certified Aircraft
Avionics OTA
8/01
9/13/01
9/28/01
12/01
6/03
6/03
10/03
8/04
10-11/04
20 Months
Discussions w/Manufacturers
TSO Data Pkg to
ACO
AVIONICS
MANUFACTURERS
(TSOA)
ACO Reviews TSO Data Pkg
Prep/Sub Prelim
SSA & Plan for SW
Aspects of Cert
TSOA
9/03
11/03
10/03
Prep/Submit
Flight Test Plan &
Balance of Design
Approval Docs
Conformity Insp & Install.
Flight Test
AVIONICS
MANUFACTURERS
(Installation STC)
Submit
Application
for STC
STC
10/03
12/03
4/04
2/04
7/04
6 Months
Standards/
Requirements
Interoperability Docs
SC189 SPR Data
VDR Subcommittee
AEEC
“A” Version MOPS Complete
AEEC Char
Available
Operational Apprvl (AFS)
Green Cover
MOPS Available
SC 198 SPR Voice
MOPS
SARPS
9/01
10/01
10/01
5/02
6/02
10/02
8/30/01

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