| | | In the October newsletter "THE GLOBAL LINK" from ARINC, USA, news was released about the Digital Automatic Information Service (D-ATIS) via datalink used by the Copenhagen ATC for air traffic bound for Copenhagen Airport. The article is qouted below: Source: www.arinc.com THE GLOBAL LINK OCTOBER 2001 / PAGE 3 By Manager, Aviation Services Ben Griffin tel +011 44 (0) 1293 76 3305 fax +011 44 (0) 1293 76 3211 bgriffin@arinc.com ARINC IN EUROPE
D-ATIS and ATS Services
Applications are fast becoming the number one priority for data-link-equipped airlines. Providing more and more functionality for our customers through data link is now a major focus for ARINC globally. Enhancements in cockpit procedures, increase in safety, reductions in voice transmissions, ability to use the application out of VHF voice range are all factors that make the Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service (D-ATIS) the number one ATC application today.
D-ATIS is a data link transmission of the ATIS that allows the flight crew to obtain pertinent airport weather and conditions information prior to making the approach to an airfield. With traditional VHF voice ATIS, the flight crew is limited to obtaining this report within VHF voice range and must transcribe this report and advise ATC that they have the current version of the ATIS message. Given that the descent into the air-port is typically the busiest time in the cockpit, it is less than ideal to have one of the crew listening to and tran-scribing an ATIS report. D-ATIS allows the flight deck to request and receive a printed version of the ATIS at any stage of the flight given that they are within VHF, HF, or satellite data link coverage area (depending on aircraft equipage). This provides the flight deck with the ability to plan the approach well ahead of time and assess the airport conditions without dedicating a member of the crew to the VHF ATIS channel during a crucial stage of the flight.
In Europe, ARINC is supporting the various air traffic service providers (ATSPs) by making many of the major international airports D-ATIS capable. As of September 2001, there are 19 locations where D-ATIS is available in Europe, with a further 28 planned. Most recent to become operational was Copenhagen Kastrup; a full ARINC 623 service is now available for use at Copenhagen, which represents a significant amount of coordination and teamwork between ARINC and the Danish air traffic service provider NAVIAIR. Attesting to the popularity of the Copenhagen system is the fact that there were almost 20,000 requests from SAS in August alone.
Many other ATS services have been implemented over data link, including oceanic clearance delivery (OCD) for both the Shanwick and Gander FIRs. ARINC recorded more than 2,500 OCD requests in August with an uplink success rate for the clearances of over 99%. Departure clearance (DCL) is now available at some of the major European airports, including Copenhagen and Paris Charles de Gaulle. D-VOLMET (Meteorological Information for Aircraft in Flight) is also now available at a number of locations, including Austria, the U.K., and Sweden, providing METAR and TAF information for flight regions.
/ Corporate Development 7.12.01 | |
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