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Michael P. HuertaAdministratorFederal Aviation Administration
FY 16-17: Agency Priority Goal
Improve the Efficiency of the National Airspace System through more Effective Data Communications Systems - DATACOMM Deployment
Priority Goal
Goal Overview
The DATACOMM program provides digital communications services between pilots and air traffic controllers (similar to text messaging). DATACOMM will provide a link between ground automation and flight deck avionics for safety-of-flight ATC clearances, instructions, traffic flow management, flight crew requests and reports. DATACOMM is critical to the success of NextGen operational improvements (OIs) by providing needed communication infrastructure enhancements. DATACOMM will reduce the impact of delays due to ground delay programs, airport reconfigurations, convective weather, congestion, and other causes. DATACOMM will also reduce communication errors, improve controller and pilot efficiency through automated information exchange, enable NextGen services (e.g., enhanced re-routes, trajectory operations), and increase controller productivity leading to increased capacity.
Strategies
DATACOMM will be delivered in Segments and Phases. The initial deployment, DATACOMM Segment 1 Phase 1 (S1P1) will deploy the Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) Departure Clearance (DCL) services in the Tower domain. In S1P1, the DATACOMM program will deliver CPDLC DCL to 56 towers, to include revisions with full route clearances transmitted directly to the aircraft on the airport surface. The CPDLC DCL service will expedite the delivery of departure clearances to aircraft, streamline clearance delivery operations, and enable quicker recovery from adverse weather events. CPDLC DCL will improve efficiency, reduce ground delays, and result in more strategic management of NAS resources.
Following this Segment 1, Phase 1 capability tower deployment, DATACOMM Segment 1 Phase 2 (S1P2) will deliver En Route services. This phase is further broken down into two parts: Initial En Route Services and Full En Route Services. DATACOMM S1P2 Initial En Route Services will leverage the S1P1 infrastructure and deliver services such as transfer of communication/initial check-in, airborne reroutes, altimeter settings and altitudes, limited controller initiated reroutes, limited direct-to-fix messages, and limited crossing restrictions. DATACOMM S1P2 Full En Route services will deploy additional airspace safety and efficiency support services to the NAS such as full crossing restrictions, full direct-to-fix messages, full controller initiated reroutes, holding instructions, and advisory messages.
Segment 2 is currently in the planning stages and will enable advanced services such as 4 D trajectories, advanced interval management, and dynamic required navigation performance (RNP).
The lastest information on performance can be found at FAA's NextGen website.
http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/snapshots/priorities/?area=dcom
Progress Update
For a full rundown of milestones, progress and schedule, please visit
https://www.faa.gov/nextgen/snapshots/priorities/?area=dcom.
In Q4 FY2016 the FAA continued the implementation of the Segment 1 Phase 1 (S1P1) Tower service. DATACOMM successfully completed enterprise testing of the Segment 1 Phase 1 (S1P1) services to support the next 15 towers in the implementation waterfall DATACOMM also tested and accepted the initial air-ground network Data Communications Network Services (DCNS) for the next 15 towers. The FAA conducted the necessary training of air traffic controller and technical operations personnel to support the deployment of S1P1 service to additional towers. Finally, DATACOMM is coordinating with air carriers to ensure appropriately equipped aircraft and trained aircrews are available to support the deployment. A total of 46 towers are operational with DATACOMM S1P1 Tower service as of the end of Q4 FY2016.
Next Steps
DATACOMM will continue implementation for the remaining 10 towers. DATACOMM will continue to support deployment with additional Tower Data Link Services (TDLS) and En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) software enhancements and fixes as necessary. DATACOMM will also activate additional service volumes at airports to support the deployment waterfall. In Q1 FY17 (October – December 2016), measurement of the impact of DATACOMM implementation on Taxi Out Times will begin at two airports, where DATACOMM Segment 1 Phase 1 (S1P1) will already be fully operational: Newark (EWR) and John F Kennedy (JFK). Impact measurement will continue at these two airports through Q3 FY2017.
This Priority Goal is most appropriately measured by milestones, which are scheduled events signifying the completion of a major deliverable or a phase of work. Progress on this Priority Goal can be seen by clicking on the Next Steps tab.
Contributing Programs & Other Factors
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The Data Comm program is addressed at the following website: http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/programs/datacomm/ DATACOMM was identified as a top four priority program in the NextGen Priorities Joint Implementation Plan delivered to Congress in October 2014 (http://www.faa.gov/nextgen/snapshots/priorities/) Supporting programs include: - En Route Automation Modernization (ERAM) (http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/technology/eram/) - Tower Data Link Services (TDLS) - FAA Telecommunications Infrastructure (FTI) (http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/technology/fti/)
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Number of Data Comm Site IOCs
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No Data Available
