Communication, Navigation & Surveillance (CNS)

 

Technical optimization is considered essential to provide the users with systems aimed at improving or at least maintaining current performance levels through synchronized interoperable technology deployment. The main objectives are:

  • To establish systems and common protocols allowing for a reliable, quick, effective and cost-efficient exchange of information between operational centers;
  • To share data coming from technical premises between adjacent units, when relevant;
  • To share technical knowledge and experience between AEFMP members and propose new technical ways of improving CNS/ATM systems.

 

COMMUNICATION

Main communication issues to be followed and actions to be coordinated by the AEFMP, when relevant, are the following.

 

Air-Ground Communications:

The sharing of data coming from radio stations between adjacent units improves the radio coverage thus positively impacting safety at an affordable cost.

Congestion of radio channels, need for automatic transcription to alleviate the workload in the cockpit and on control centres positions allowing exchange of data between aircraft and ground systems led to consider the implementation of new air/ground communications.

Furthermore, intensive use of 8.33 kHz frequencies dedicated to Air-Ground communication leads to interference issues.

 

Ground-Ground Communications:

The AEFMP shall monitor the existing G/G voice communication services and, when necessary implement new ones, paying special attention to quality, availability, reliability, and cost evolution.

Data communication is essential for a rapid and reliable interchange of information between operational units, decreasing controllers workload.

The AEFMP shall monitor and promote the improvement of their efficiency and their implementation when necessary.

 

NAVIGATION

Main navigation issues to be followed and actions to be coordinated by the AEFMP are, when relevant:

 

GNSS:

AEFMP is invited to analyse of GNSS related issues, sharing data from their available GNSS monitoring network and/or interference detection infrastructure. To this end, AEFMP share, on a case-by-case basis, the available information related to, for example, recorded or monitored GNSS parameters for GPS, GPS/RAIM and SBAS (EGNOS in this area) systems or GPS L1 interference detection data.

 

SURVEILLANCE

Main surveillance issues to be followed and actions to be coordinated by the AEFMP are, when relevant:

  • Standards: the AEFMP shall monitor the existing surveillance data formats and tools, the evolution and implementation of new ones, with special attention to international standards.
  • Surveillance data sharing: in order to improve and assure surveillance coverage over the AEFMP area with a minimal economic impact, surveillance data is already shared between some adjacent countries.
  • ADS services (ADS-B/C): these services being considered as of very significant performance contribution.
  • Local and Wide Area Multi-lateration (LAM/WAM): this technological improvement is considered as a good mean to enhance the surveillance systems without high CAPEX or OPEX.
  • The AEFMP shall promote and monitor implementation and deployment of these technologies in the AEFMP area.

 

Interoperability

The AEFMP shall promote, coordinate and monitor the use of data standards by the ATS units of the area in order to assure the interoperability of flight data processing systems.