Page 20 - ITU-T Focus Group on Aviation Applications of Cloud Computing for Flight Data Monitoring - Key findings, recommendations for next steps and future work

ITU-T Focus Group on Aviation Applications of Cloud Computing for Flight Data Monitoring
Key findings, recommendations for next steps and future work

Mode 4, UAT/978, 1090ES, GBAS/GRAS VDB and ATG using evolution-data optimized (EvDO) and long term
evolution (LTE) technologies and one with satellite data link characteristics for L-band GEO Equatorial of various
generations (I3, I4), L-band LEO, Ku-band GEO and Ka-band GEO technologies.
Appendix 3 provides information for each technology including example providers, link use mode (air-ground,
ground-air, and air-air), altitude restrictions, geographic coverage, frequency band, data rate, safety classification
and latency. The data rates associated with each link are extracted and provided in the tables below.

Satellite
technology L-band GEO

Classic Aero H/H+ Swift64 SwiftBroadband
Data rate (from aircraft) 0.6 – 10.5 kbps 64 kbps 432 kbps

Satellite L-band LEO Ku-band GEO Ka-band GEO
technology
Data rate (from aircraft) 2.4 kbps 1 Mbps 5 Mbps

Terrestrial VDL 0/A VDL 2 HF DL VDL 4 UAT/978
technology

Data rate (from 2.4 kbps 31.5 kbps 0.3 – 1.8 bps 19.2 kbps 1 Mbps
aircraft)

Terrestrial technology 1090ES GBAS/GRAS VDB ATG EvDO Rev. A ATG EvDO Rev. B ATG LTE
Data rate (from aircraft) 0.695 kbps 31.5 kbps 1.8 Mbps 3.6 Mbps TBD

c) Conclusion
• The total data volume associated with flight data recording at the latest common FDR standard of 1024
wps is considerably less than might be expected (less than 22 TB for 10,000 aircraft).
• The total bandwidth requirements to routinely transmit flight data at 1024 wps in real time (less than
117 Mbps total for 10,000 aircraft) is considerably less than might be expected
• Many narrowband data link systems have the potential to be used to stream basic flight data since only
72 bps is required to continuously stream aircraft position data from any aircraft.
• Terrestrial data links cannot support extended overwater operations (EOO) which is a primary focus for GADSS.
• Existing Ku-band and Ka-band satellite data link systems have enough significant bandwidth to support
both routine flight data streaming and triggered transmission of flight data.
• Classic Aero (over the I3, I4 and MTSAT system) provides near global coverage, has had safety classification
for many years and has sufficient bandwidth to achieve some forms of limited data streaming.
• SwiftBroadband provides near global coverage, is expected to have safety classification in the near term
and provides enough bandwidth to support both routine flight data streaming and triggered transmission
of flight data.

• Iridium provides 100% global coverage and has safety classification but does not have sufficient bandwidth
today to support streaming of most commonly used flight data (FDR) standards such as 256 wps or 512
wps. Iridium NEXT will have sufficient bandwidth.

3.3.3 Recommendations and next steps

The following recommendations are proposed for ITU consideration:

• TSAG to submit final Deliverable 4 to relevant ITU-R Study Groups 4 and 5 (SG4 and SG5) for their perusal.

12