Consultation expired with comments. The proposed Special Condition (SC) has not been updated based on the comments received.
Details
Publication of the final Master Technical Subject.
Identification of issue
EASA received an application for the certification of a new function on a Large Aeroplane, which allows to use SATCOM SBB (Inmarsat Swift Broadband satellite communications) in combination with the datalink types ATN B1 and ATS B2 including ATS B2 with backwards compatibility to ATN B1.
Furthermore, in the frame of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Project, the project PJ.14-W2-107 also aims at offering the capability to use existing satellite communication technology (“SATCOM Class A”) to support Air Traffic Services (ATS) datalink using ATN B1 or ATS B2 including ATS B2 with backwards compatibility to ATN B1 datalink services.
Such solutions, and in particular the use of a SATCOM subnetwork for ATN, are not currently addressed in CS-ACNS Issue 4. Issue 4 of the CS-ACNS does not consider SATCOM and although it does refer to FANS 1/A which also uses SATCOM in the context of CS ACNS.B.DLS.B1.015, this reference is only made in the context of integrating FANS 1/A with ATN B1 or ATS B2 in so called ‘Dual Stack’ installations. Therefore, as per point 21.B.75 of Part 21 (Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 748/2012), special conditions have to be introduced.
The aim of this Consultation Paper is therefore to extend the applicability of CS-ACNS, Subpart B, section 2 –Data Link Services to also cover the ATN over SATCOM capability.