# Presentation: 065490

## ....Airplanes As a Network....

***Airborne Network Technology Review Days Conference***
***August 24, 2005***
***Ralph Yost***
***Research & Technology Division, ATO-P***
***William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center***

***...******.Airplanes As a Network....***
***Information Connectivity in Aviation***

## Sometimes things go your way and just drop into place.....

***Sometimes things go your way and just drop into place.....***

## Slide 3

## Main Topics for Today

**Describe Airborne Internet and the Collaborative Information Environment**
**Describe how Airborne Internet is a vital element in the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NGATS)**

## Airborne Internet Overview Video

##   A concept that overlays network theory and principles into the transportation realm

-   A concept that overlays network theory and principles into the transportation realm

***...***_***Information CONNECTIVITY***_*** ....A scalable, general purpose, multi-application data channel for people in transit****** ***

***A.I. brings ***_***Network Enabled Operations***_*** to the aircraft***

## A.I. Extended Definitionand Basic Principles

**Network capability for all classes of aircraft: transport, biz jet, GA, helicopter**
**Includes an ADS-B capability**
**Based upon published open standards**
**Utilize the same commercial technologies that the Internet is based on**
**Connectivity at all altitudes, oceanic, Gulf of Mexico, potential world wide**
**Must be reliable, available, persistent, secure, and *****low cost***

## Airborne Internet

- Satcom

**ATC Controller **

**GPS**

**Navigation **

_**Airport Services**__*** ***_
** ****TIS**
** ****FIS**
** ****Hospitality**
** ****Maint.**

_*Internet*_* *
-  Weather Products
-  NOTAMs
-  Flight Service Stations
-  Other

**Gateway **

**Original graphic courtesy of Computer Networks & Software, Inc.**

**VHF Radio**

**VHF Radio**

**VHF Radio**

**Line of **
**sight**

_**NAS Services**_
** ****ATM System **
** ****HUB Airports**
** ****TIS-B**

***Non-CIE ***
***Aircraft***

**DATABASE**
**CONNECTIVITY**

-  XM
-  RFID
-  AM/FM
-  802.xx

**Airborne Internet**

**VPN**

**Collaborative Information Environment**
**“****Meet us in the cloud”**

## Airborne Internet and Network Enabled Operations

**A.I. brings network connectivity to the aircraft, **_***enabling***_** the Air Information Web.**
**Air Information Web = Collaborative Information Environment**
**Currently do not have system-wide network connectivity**
** **_***between aircraft***_** and/or **
**between **_***aircraft and the ground***_**.**
**Simply add other uses to the network as needed**.

## Functional Picture of the Collaborative Information Environment

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**Functional Picture of the Collaborative Information Environment**

- Safety

- O/S, Products & solutions

## FAA Tech CenterAirborne Internet Research Lab

** ****Integration to TC NAS labs:**
**	****ATC, CNS, Simulations, Security**
** ****Six T.C. Aircraft for flight tests**
** ****NGATS Uses of Airborne Internet**
**SWIM****, CPDLC, etc.**
**Information Sharing**
**Surveillance Augmentation ADS-B**
**XML aviation services**
**VoIP, “packet” voice**
**FAMs: video, voice**
**Black Box real time data**
**Weather (****sensors****/apps)**
**EFB**
**InfoSec**
**Data Compression**
**IP Version 6**

## FAA Tech Center’s New Test Aircraft

## Airborne Internet In the NGATSIntegrated Plan

**Airborne Internet “****elements****” are mentioned throughout the NGATS Integrated Plan**
**(Dec 2004)**

## Security Operations, 4.1, page 11:
“Law enforcement and other agencies responsible for the nation’s security must have access to a common integrated operating picture via secure data link, air-to-ground communication systems, and airborne internet.”
Recognized as a potential to enhance information connectivity to the aircraft and to FAMS/LEOs
However, FAMS are only ONE application that Airborne Internet enables

**“****Law enforcement and other agencies responsible for the nation’s security must have access to a **_**common integrated operating picture**_** via secure ****data link, air-to-ground communication systems****, and **_***airborne internet***_**.”**
**Recognized as a potential to enhance information connectivity to the aircraft and to FAMS/LEOs**
**However, FAMS are only *****ONE***** application that Airborne Internet enables**

*** ******Airborne Internet****** in NGATS Architecture***

## JPDO National Plan Objective:  
“Enable services [on demand] tailored to traveler and shipper needs” and “Reduce costs of air transportation”  

*“**Enable services [on demand] tailored to **traveler and shipper** needs” and “Reduce costs of air transportation”  *

*** ******Airborne Internet****** in NGATS Architecture***

##  Airborne Internet in NGATS Architecture

- Page 9, NGATS Plan, Dec ’04
- 3.5 Ensure Our National Defense
- Integrating the information and communication systems of defense agencies is essential to ensuring that our nation is prepared to combat threats.
- The future air transportation system also will improve support for military missions. Commercial carriers will be able to provide more capable and economical transportation services and access to global airspace. Additionally, global harmonization of standards, procedures, and operations will reduce the investment necessary to ensure U.S. military access to international airspace.

*** ******Airborne Internet****** in NGATS Architecture***

- Every aircraft is a node on the network

***The Air Force is ***_***extremely interested***_*** in “integrating” with the civil air fleet use of Airborne Internet.***

##  Airborne Internet in NGATS Architecture

- Page 14, NGATS Plan, Dec ‘04
- “**Data link communications **_**will replace**_** voice communications**
**between aircraft and air traffic management systems improving**
**the accuracy and timeliness of information exchange. ****Data link**
**communication will be routine**** for air traffic management and**
**operational control purposes. Voice communications will only**
**be used for data link equipped aircraft under extraordinary**
**circumstances and for routine and operational control of aircraft without data link capabilities**.”

*** ******Airborne Internet****** in NGATS Architecture***

- Every aircraft is a node on the network

## Chapter 5: Roadmap for Success3. Establish An Agile Air Traffic SystemResearch Areas, Page 15

- Define and evaluate fundamental communications, navigation, and surveillance architecture options, such as moving to digital data links and away from voice command and control, satellite-based-only or continued reliance on ground-based communications systems, spectrum and bandwidth needs and likely spectrum availability.

*** ******Airborne Internet****** in NGATS Architecture***

##  Airborne Internet in NGATS Architecture

- Nav
- Constellation
- (Positioning)

**Aeronautical Information & **
**Gate-to-Gate 4-D Trajectory**

**ADS-B**

**ADS-B**

**Dynamically**
**Optimized**
**Airspace**

- National Airspace
- Evaluator

- Traffic Manager’s
- Facilities

- Airport
**Dynamically**
**Optimized**
**Airport**
**Configuration**

*Terrestrial*
*Comm*

*Terrestrial*
*Comm*

- _Desired Effects - 2025_

**ADS-B**

- Ground-Based
- Users

*Terrestrial*
*Comm*

**SWIM**

*** ******Airborne Internet****** in NGATS Architecture***

- Comm Constellation
**Data & Voice Digital Comm**

_**and ADS-B in one combined system**_

**Airborne Internet**

## JPDO Themes

**Net Centric Information flow**
- All NAS info in a common Info system with temporal capability
- Wide Area **broadband** for voice & data (incl. surveillance info)
- “Mega” Navigation Precision:  Navigation Performance = CAT-IIIC landings
- Multiple, differentiated service levels aligned with user ability to meet different levels of Required Total System Performance
- “Evaluator” – software optimization of requests
- All users “post” desired 4D trajectories in common system that continuously evaluates all trajectories
- Supports optimal allocation of resources, adaptive airspace configuration, and end-to-end traffic flow management using probabilistic information to make decisions
- Integrates external information such as weather, security, defense, international
- Introduction of management-by-trajectory and control by exception
- Allocation of functions between automation and humans
- Allocation of functions between aircraft operators and ‘central’ service provider
- Surface control paradigm & info like up & away flight
- Improve capacity of existing busy airports
- “Equivalent visual” operations                 -- Reduced separation standards
- Simultaneous operations on single runway
- Enable more use of underutilized airports?

## NGATS 2025 INFORMATION SHARING

- Sufficient frequency bandwidth exists
- Sufficient pre-existing facility infrastructure for gnd-based info-sharing nodes
- Pre-existing cooperative decision-making policy for command and control
- “Push/Pull” information sharing via NEO
- “Mega” navigation precision
- Information tailored, secured according to needs to users
- Information is protected, according to its sensitivity

***Info-sharing Legend***
**A = ground to air, air to air, air to ground**
- G = ground to ground
-  I  = commercial/internet
- V = various methods of info sharing

***Planning***

***Execution***

**Airports**

**Ground**
**Support Ops**

**Air Navigation Service Provider**

**Public**
**Users**

**Aerospace**
**Vehicles**

**Weather**

**Space-borne**

**Intel**
**Community**

**Senior Govt**
**Dec Makers**

**Homeland Security**
**Homeland Defense**

**Correlator**

**A**

**A**

**G**

**G**

**G**

**G**

**G**

**G**

**G**

**I**

**V**

**G**

**Communities of Interest**

**G**

**A**

**Notes:**
Overview:  Shared Situational Awareness in 2025 leverages Network-Enabled Operations (NEO) to provide an “atmosphere” of data provided by numerous sources, public and private, accessible by users as needed to perform their operations

This scenario presumes:
 Frequency bandwidth will be unconstrained thanks to the capability to digitize existing analog frequency bands; we envision a “nanodigital” bandwidth
 An extensive, ground-based architecture preexists
 A cohesive, collaborative C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence) policy capability exists 

Data Characteristics:
 Data input to the various nodes will be generated from a combination of ground, aerial, marine, and space-based sources
 The central node “Optimization/Coordination” will be a “human oversight, machine-to-machine” entity capable of absorbing inputs from numerous sources, evaluating the input against a dynamic, evolving data set of criteria (user-specific modifiable) to provide real-time solution sets
 Information sharing Communities of Interest employ a “push-pull” architecture to allow users appropriate access to the information they require for their specific tasks/responsibilities/level of decision making

Homeland Security/Homeland Defense Community of Interest (COI):
 Information flow assisted by a “correlation” capability designed to filter out the 99% of routine flights and instantly recognize and alert to anomalies
 Identification and action/reaction decision cycles are reduced by reducing the amount of data to process
 COI Supported by a sophisticated surveillance/intelligence gathering and dissemination ability capable of providing sufficient lead time to influence inputs to the “optimization/coordination” process as well as react immediately or in advance to possible security threats

Senior Govt Decision Makers:
Informed by homeland security/homeland defense COI and the Intel Community for HLS issues, and overall  by the information present in the ATM Optimizer and coordinator tool for economic or other policy issues
 Access to broad categories of information to allow high-level decision making in a rapid manner

Public Sector (bold arrow):
 An input-dominant node representing public demand, access and influence, facilitated by state of the art e-access to appropriate portions of the system

Information Sharing Technologies
Air to Ground, air to air, ground to air:  all digital
Data links
Satcom
RF
Wireless

Ground to Ground: all digital, virtual chat, e-mail, collaborative and real time web
Voice over IPL
Wireless
Broadband
Point-to-point (Hot lines)

Commercial/Internet
Broad-based access
Demand driven
Web based (open architecture)
Access to appropriate portions only (i.e. arrival times vice route of flight)

## The “A:”  Airborne Net

- Graphic courtesy of Mike Bragg, Univ of Illinois

**The “****A****:”  ****A****irborne ****N****et**

## Seek changes/advocate for standardization of agency policies, procedures, and info sharing organizational processes 
Executive Order 13356 foundations:  standards and architecture
Advocate agency adoption of Network-Enabled Operations (NEO) concepts to develop information sharing Communities of Interest able to share data and knowledge from public and private sources
Technology development 
Air-to-ground, ground-to-air, air-to-air:  digital, secure, collaborative via an “AirNet” concept
Ground to Ground: digital, virtual chat, e-mail, collaborative and real time web
Commercial/Internet: broad-based access (to appropriate portions of information), demand driven, web based (open architecture)
Develop airspace surveillance architecture requirements
Layered integrated surveillance system of systems approach
Rapidly highlight correlation anomalies between
    cooperative tracks and surveillance awareness

**Executive Order 13356 foundations:  standards and architecture**
**Advocate agency adoption of ****Network-Enabled Operations (NEO)**** concepts to develop information sharing Communities of Interest able to share data and knowledge from public and private sources**
**Technology development **
**Air-to-ground, ground-to-air, air-to-air:  digital, secure, collaborative via an “AirNet” concept**
**Ground to Ground: digital, virtual chat, e-mail, collaborative and real time web**
**Commercial/Internet:**** broad-based access (to appropriate portions of information), demand driven, web based ****(open architecture)**
**Develop airspace surveillance architecture requirements**
**Layered integrated surveillance**** system of systems approach**
**Rapidly highlight correlation anomalies between**
**    ****cooperative tracks and surveillance awareness**

**SSA IPT**
**Major Themes**

***REDAC Update Summary***

**Notes:**
Mainpoints/Summary of REDAC Presentation.
SSA IPT differs from some of the other IPTs; it's a concept not a thing
Focus: Information sharing as opposed to producing hardware
Vision: Enable transmission of info to those who need it permitting them to make timely, accurate decisions
Enable agencies to build systems capable of info integrated
Develop COI for info sharing
Characteristics of SSA.
Stressors: temporal nature of air
 Information is dynamic, as illustrated in the "cloud" slide
Focus of SSA is on "edges of the information cloud"
"Push/pull" nature
Current Emphasis.
Need for identifying technology needs/development
Dev airspace surveillance  requirements--what capabilities do we need for 2025, and who is responsible?

 Early Victories:  NEO Demo, FAA/NASA Info sharing development, EO13356 follow-ons
Interrelationships.
Tie-in to Crown effort, discussion of architecture slide and "correlator"
Transformation = policy + tech dev
Integrate air w/ other domains
Comparison to GN --transform info same way

## Airborne Information Web Roadmap

**Airborne Information Web Roadmap**

- Trial flight planning and prototyping

- North American Overlay (Canada, Mexico)

- European and Oceanic Overlay

- Remote Area Surveillance Architecture

**2008**

**2010**

**2015**

**2025**

- Total System Operability

- Constellation Evolution  (Satellite, Aerostat, UAS) for Communications & Surveillance

- Determine content & data sharing requirements

- Initial Operational Capability

** ****Trial flight planning and prototyping:  Continuation of FAA’s interagency current testing of the ****“Airborne Internet”**
-  Content & data sharing:  Define required elements (ex, Digital Datalink, Weather Data, etc.)
-    & the users
-  IOC:  **Expansion of ****Airborne Internet** to interface with existing NAS
-  NA Overlay:  Begin expansion of concept to Canada & Mexico
-  Remote Area Surveillance:  Establish airborne assets over remote regions where time of day factors or aircraft-to-aircraft nodes are limited
-  European, Oceanic Overlay:  Expansion to Europe and Oceanic flight
-  Constellation Evolution: Continuing deployment of aerospace constellation
-  Total System Operability: _**Airborne Web is an intrinsic component of the NGATS**_

## Global Secure Access to Net-Centric Information

**Global Secure Access to Net-Centric Information**
** ****Roadmap**

- Deploy sensors & systems providing multi-dimensional information

- Improved data flow automation

- Rapid/Large data stream transmission via wide-area broadband

- Automatic Classification tiering

**2008**

**2010**

**2015**

**2025**

- Total System Operability

- Improved tracking technologies to maximize shared use airspace

-  Network Legacy Systems: Near term assessment of existing NAS components with future applications
-  Improved Data Flow: Enhanced speed and dependability of currently available systems
-  Improved Tracking Technologies: Exploitation of machine-machine capability, airborne sensors
-  Sensors & Systems: Continuation of R&D for improved-capability sensors
-  Improved Collaboration Tools:  Enhanced ability to identify and highlight anomalies;
-   elimination of duplication or unnecessary info regeneration
-  Automatic Classification “Tiering”:  Transparent declassification of protected information to maximize access for users—ex, the end product is unclassified, but source remains classified
-  Rapid/Large Data Stream: Greater bandwidth access & information compression
-  Total System Operability: All users have access to 100% reliable, secure
-    information that they need, when they need it

- Improved collaboration/correlation tools

**Network legacy systems into ****Airborne Web**

## Capability:Network-Enabled Information Access Global secure access, information handled according to communities of interest”

**“****Shared Situation Awareness”**
**􀂃 ****Real-time free-flow of info from private, commercial, & government**
**sources**
**􀂃 ****Push/pull processes****, secured according to needs and priorities**
**􀂃 ****Common awareness of day-to-day ops, events, crises**
_**Aircraft are additional “nodes” in network**_
**Integrated surveillance system across government**

## NGATS Information Sharing

_***2025 Assumptions***_
**• ****Sufficient bandwidth exists**
**• ****Sufficient infrastructure**
**• ****Total Security Integration**

**Broad-Area Precision navigation**
** ****Tailored, secured according to needs of users**
**“****Push/Pull” information sharing via NEO**

## Airborne Information Web

- •***Broad-area***
***broadband***
- •***Data & Voice***
- •***Surveillance***
- •***Secured***
- •***Responsive***
- •***User-tailored***

## Summary

- NGATS requires network connectivity ***to*** aircraft, ***between*** aircraft, and ADS-B functionality
- Airborne Internet is the Universal Network Connectivity basis for NGATS and will accommodate ADS-B functionality
- Airborne Internet has begun today to demonstrate NGATS Network Enabled Operations and provide the “lessons” necessary to implement the end-state-solution
**Airborne Internet enables and provides**:
**“****Shared Situational Awareness”, Net-Centric Operations**
**ADS-B, Broad-area broadband,  Data & Voice,  Security, Responsiveness, and User-tailored information**
- 􀂃 **Real-time free-flow of info from private, commercial, & government sources**
**Push/pull processes, secured according to needs and priorities**
**Common awareness of day-to-day ops, events, crises**
**Aircraft are additional “nodes” in network**
**Integrated surveillance system across government**
**Completely interoperable for *****ALL***** classes of aircraft**

## Working in the government...”is like living the dream.”

## Paradigm Shifts in Aviation

***Paradigm Shifts in Aviation***
***Like Herding Cats?***

** ****Government progress can be like “herding cats”**
**In doing so, you can get “scraped up”**
**Even so, when you see some progress made, it is VERY personally rewarding**
**Only those inside government can truly appreciate the value of **_***real***_** progress in government**

## Network In the Sky

***Ralph Yost***
***Research & Technology Division***
***William J Hughes Technical Center***
***Atlantic City Airport, NJ 08405***
***(609) 485-5637***
***Ralph.Yost@faa.gov***
***http://www.AirborneInternet.com***
***http://www.airborneinternet.net***

***Network In the Sky***
***Every aircraft is a network node***