The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Airbus and Boeing are proposing a plan to modernize aviation data communication by 2035.
The plan, which was described in a task force report made public in mid-November, calls for increased reliance on technologies such as broadband.
“Aviation connectivity supports the various air-ground data exchanges that are becoming increasingly essential to support safe, sustainable and efficient air traffic management (ATM) and the air operations of tomorrow,” the report said. “It is currently supported by a set of technologies that rely to a large extent on VHF datalink and on first generation aviation SATCOM connectivity. While these technologies have served the aviation community well for decades, they are in need for upgrade and for more harmonisation.”
Overall connectivity needs are increasing, largely because necessary ATM improvements will require increased …
