Project ELSA SES Awards submission
Short description of the project/initiative (max 200 words - 140 word(s))
The use of very high frequency datalink (VDL2) for controller/pilot data link communications (CPDLC) is crucial to the realisation of SESAR-compliant operations. However, since its introduction, significant performance issues have been observed, manifesting as disconnections.
To address this, the European Commission requested, via the SESAR Joint Undertaking, a study to analyse the cause of performance issues and recommend ways to address them.
The ELSA (Enhance Large Scale ATN deployment) consortium establishedan unprecedented strategic partnership of 23 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), air/ground Communication Service Providers (CSPs), avionics and aircraft manufactures, ground and airborne aviation communication system manufacturers and companies specialising in test equipment and testing.It was awarded the contract in February 2015. Several airlines and Eurocontrol also provided data to support the activity.
The Consortium carried out over 400 flight recording campaigns, technical stress tests and 700 hours of simulations – accumulating 350,000 flight hours. Data analysis of 3 million air/ground exchangeswas completed, alongside radio-frequency modelling, to identify the problems.
TheConsortium has delivered a report outlining clear recommendations and the steps that need to be taken to unlock the benefits of datalink and ensure it can underpin the communications required to achieve a Single European Sky.
Explain briefly how your project/initiative complies with the SES award criteria – if available use numbers and statistics (max 100 words each - 0 word(s))
Contribution to increasing capacity of ATM systems
Controller Pilot DataLink Capability (CPDLC), if it were to work as envisaged, wouldincrease capacity by reducing controller workload, reducing demand on radio frequencies and minimising the chance of misinterpretation of controller/pilot instructions.
However, these benefits are yet to be realised due to the performance issues that have been experienced to date. This is despite significant investment by airlines and ANSPs in the technology.
By carrying out such comprehensive analysis and providing clear recommendations and actions to address the problems, the ELSA consortium have provided the Roadmap that will enable this technology to deliver the capacity benefits originally envisaged, underpinning the SESAR concept of operations.
Contribution to increasing safety of ATM systems
Controller Pilot DataLink Capability (CPDLC) technology will provide safety benefits once fully operational, by providing clear, unambigious messages on screen. This reduces the risk of any misinterpretation or miscommunication possible when using voice communications.
However, these safety benefits cannot be realised whilst the technology cannot be relied upon. The ELSA consortium have provided the analysis required to address these problems and a Roadmap that will enable this technology to deliver the safety benefits originally envisaged, underpinning the SESAR concept of operations.
Improvement of ATM cost-efficiency
Significant investments havealready been made by both airlines and the ANSPs in DataLink technology. Whilst the technology remains unreliable, these investments – reflected in the route charges paid by Airlines, are delivering little or no benefit.
ELSA has identified the steps required to ensure that those investments reap a return and that the capacity benefits of DataLink (which in turn improve cost-efficiency) can be realised, for the benefit of airlines, ANSPs and the flying public.
Contribution to reducing the impact of air transport on the environment
N/A
Early implementation ("First movers") of SES obligations or SESAR solutions
N/A
Potential to be replicated over the ATM network
DataLink is designed for the entire ATM network and the benefits to airlines and, in turn, the flying public will come once the system can be reliably used across Europe. Once the ELSA Recommendations are implemented, the benefits will be reaped across the entire ATM network, underpinning the delivery of SESAR-compliant operations.
Innovative aspects
As well as the DataLink technology itself, the ELSA consortium has also been innovative in the way it has brought together an unprecedented strategic partnership of 23 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), air/ground Communication Service Providers (CSPs), avionics and aircraft manufactures, ground and airborne aviation communication system manufacturers and companies specialising in test equipment and testing, as well as airlines and Eurocontrol.
ELSA focused all actors onto agreed joint objectives for resolving the issues related to DataLink performance. For the first time, data from the complete thread (aircraft, air-ground network, ANSPs) was captured and analysed.
The approach taken was also innovative, combining vast volumes of flight recording campaigns, technical stress tests and simulations to provide unprecedented volumes of air/ground exchange data and applying innovative radio-frequency modelling to identify the problems and their cause.
Promoting partnerships
The ELSA consortium brought together an unprecedented strategic partnership of 23 Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), air/ground Communication Service Providers (CSPs), avionics and aircraft manufactures, ground and airborne aviation communication system manufacturers and companies specialising in test equipment and testing. It also involved airlines and Eurocontrol.
The project required all parties to sign up to common objectives and agree a common approach to resolving the issues. The fact that more than 30 entities from different disciplines did this in order to resolve an issue which is so crucial to the success of SESAR deployment, demonstrates the value of partnerships to delivering SES and should act as an example for future collaborations.
Contribution to change management
Delivering SES will require partnerships and collaboration beyond those traditionally seen within the ATM industry. The ELSA consortium demonstrated what can be achieved when the industry unites to address a problem which affects the entire aviation industry. In doing so, it sets a benchmark for future industry-wide collaborations, demonstrating the different ways of working which will no doubt be required if we are to achieve a Single European Sky.
Benefits for citizens and passengers
DataLink has the potential to deliver both safety and capacity benefits that would benefit passengers flying throughout Europe. However, whilst the technology continues to encounter significant performance issues, those benefits cannot be realised.
The ELSA consortium have provided the analysis, recommendations and a clear Roadmap that will enable Datalink to underpin ATM operations across Europe, delivering both the immediate safety and capacity benefits of the technology and enabling the deployment of other SESAR concepts (such as Initial 4D trajectories) that will further benefit citizens and passengers.
Contribution to creating jobs and growth
N/A
Promoting SES and SESAR beyond the Union’s boundaries
This technology is required to function fullyfor the SESAR vision to be realised.Without it, this cannot be achieved, which would damage the reputation of SES/SESAR in other parts of the world. By identifying the problems that need to be address for Datalink to work reliably and providing the Roadmap to achieve this, ELSA has helped to ensure this does not happen. It has also reinforced the global reputation of SES and SESAR, demonstrating the collaboration it has encouraged and empowered within Europe’s entire aviation industry.