By developing a portfolio of innovative solutions, the SESAR-supported FCDI project is paving the way towards a more collaborative, secure and efficient aeronautical communication environment – one able to cope with increasing connectivity and automation challenges while also answering the demand for more capacity and efficiency.
Helping to ensure safety and efficiency, CNS (communication, navigation and surveillance) systems are at the heart of air traffic management (ATM). But as ATM evolves, so too must these systems.
Yet doing so is easier said than done.
That’s because the performance requirements for CNS systems are becoming more complex and demanding, particularly in the face of increasing cybersecurity threats. As a result, these systems must be considered as part of an integrated and holistic system-of-systems, which includes both air and ground CNS solutions, along with a unified concept of operations.
At the same time, CNS systems and infrastructure must take a more business- and performance-oriented approach, one that makes efficient use of available resources and can deliver the required capability in a cost-effective manner.
Enter the SESAR-supported FCDI project.
“Our mission is to develop communication technology to support and manage the operational services of the future ATM system,” says FCDI Project Coordinator Simona Pierattelli.
Four core solutions
To deliver on this mission, the project is focused on four main solutions, including a cybersecurity framework for CNS.
“As the CNS system becomes more connected and automated, the risk for a cyberattack increases,” explains Pierattelli. “Countering this risk requires a more collaborative approach to security, which we aim to facilitate by providing an effective, long-term defence against those cyberattacks targeting the future CNS environment.”
The project is also working on a hyperconnected ATM precursor that will serve as a foundation for the best use of safety aeronautical and broadband cabin communication links; along with future communication infrastructure (FCI) services and internet protocol suite (IPS) enhancements that will make the FCI mobility and multilink safer and more interoperable with aviation.
FCI mobility and multilink are key components of the next-generation aeronautical telecommunications network (ATN/IPS), designed to provide seamless and reliable air-to-ground communication for aircraft.
A fourth solution focuses on developing FCI terrestrial data links, such as LDACS, to provide secure, high throughput communication capability and voice, with embedded navigation capability.
“Together, these solutions will contribute to deliver the Digital European Sky for a smarter and more sustainable aviation,” adds Pierattelli.
Significant progress made
Since its launch in 2022, FCDI has made significant progress on all its proposed solutions. For example, the project demonstrated that public air-ground links and commercial radio infrastructures, such as those used for in-flight passenger connectivity, can effectively complement traditional safety communication links.
“This result supports both the safety and regularity of air-ground communications by leveraging existing infrastructure to enhance cockpit communication performance,” notes Pierattelli.
Furthermore, the project’s work on developing the FCI based on IPS mobility and multilink has been critical in ensuring the long-term viability of emerging SESAR operational concepts. Specifically, FCDI’s research on multilink policy management and enhanced performance for critical ATM services represents a significant milestone towards achieving robust and efficient air traffic management.
Another key result is the maturation of LDACS technology, with the project’s development of an LDACS airborne prototype pushing the technology closer to operational readiness and promising secure, high-bandwidth communication compatible with existing civil and military L-Band systems.
Transforming the aviation ecosystem
Although the FCDI project is far from finished, its work has already contributed to transforming the aviation ecosystem – an achievement that Pierattelli says is a direct result of the project’s adoption of a holistic and integrated approach.
“Rather than approaching each thematic area as a silo, we worked to ensure that all components interact and complement each other in meaningful ways,” she says. “This allows us to maximise the overall benefits and impact of our work.”
Those benefits will include:
- Improved cost and operational efficiency, enabling more streamlined and resilient air traffic management systems
- Enhanced safety, thanks to more secure, interoperable, and robust infrastructures
- Increased airspace capacity, supporting the growing demand for air traffic while maintaining high performance levels
- Reduced environmental impact by optimising trajectories and supporting greener aviation strategies
- Improved civil-military interoperability, ensuring more effective coordination and shared use of airspace
“Together, these benefits pave the way for a more collaborative, secure and efficient aeronautical communication environment that can cope with increasing connectivity and automation challenges while also answering the demand for more capacity and efficiency,” concludes Pierattelli.
The project is currently transitioning from a focus on research and development towards delivering practical, scalable solutions that are ready for real-world implementation.
