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| The 41 Member States of Eurocontrol have mandated the agency to prepare for the deployment of the European Air/Ground Data Communication Service (EAGDCS). Photo: Eurocontrol |
[Avionics Magazine 10-11-2016] The 41 member states of Eurocontrol have mandated the agency to prepare for the deployment of the European Air/Ground Data Communication Service (EAGDCS). A directive to this effect from the organization’s governing body has been approved, in full consistency with the European Union Council Decision in June this year that entrusted Eurocontrol with the project.
Eurocontrol will collaborate with the Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) of its member states and with aircraft operators within the context of the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) project, to develop the necessary governance, financing and procurement arrangements and to develop technical specifications.
As an initial step, Eurocontrol is organizing a workshop in November to kick-off the project in the view of setting up the framework to start delivering the EAGDCS service in compliance with (EU) 2015/310 timeframe, which has mandated a deadline of Feb. 5, 2018 for ANSPs. It will also look to deliver EAGDCS service in compliance with the Commission Implementing Regulation (CIR) No. 716/2014, and in particular Air Traffic Management (ATM) Functionality 6, initial trajectory information sharing.
Air/Ground Data Communication (AGDC) services allow controllers and pilots to communicate with each other safely, in a way that reduces the chance of miscommunication and frees up radio channels for more urgent messages. It is also an important step towards the SESAR concept of 4D trajectories, allowing for the exchange of data from the Flight Management System (FMS) of the aircraft to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) center and providing the controller with real-time information on a pilot’s intentions.