The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at Miami International Airport is opened its doors Monday to showcase new aircraft technologies.
NextGen, the Federal Aviation Administration's Next Generation Air Transportation System, has enabled Data Communications (Data Comm) to equip air traffic controllers and pilots with digital message communications. This simplifies and accelerates two-way data exchange among aircrafts.
Data Comm also generates voice commands from digital information to give instructions, clearances, advisories, and important information to speed the communication rate between pilots and controllers.
UPS Airlines Chief Pilot for the Americas, Captain Bud Potts, gives us a look inside a Boeing 767 jet to explain how flights save several minutes per takeoff with the new technology. Then, Captain Lou Casale gives us a live demonstration of the verbal and digital communication with the tower from the cockpit:
FAA believes that Data Comm is critical for operational improvements by providing communication infrastructure enhancements. The new technologies will:
- Reduce delays and provide more efficient routes for aircraft
- Improve controller and pilot efficiency with increased system output
- Reduce errors associated with voice communication
- Reduce impact of ground delays due to congestion and adverse weather
- Reduce environmental impact due to less fuel burn and emissions
- Enable NextGen services (e.g., enhanced re-routes, trajectory operations)
During the presentation, UPS put together a presentation of various new highlights surrounding these new technologies:
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Improvements will be implemented in two segments, with segment one providing data communications with automated voicing, and segment two providing advanced NextGen operations not possible using voice communications, such as four-dimensional trajectories and advanced flight interval management.