L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) flight trials in the national German project MICONAV

Abstract

Today's voice-based air-ground communication system for aircraft guidance is suffering from increasing saturation of the VHF band in high density areas. Therefore the European Union strives for a transition from analog voice communication to more spectrum efficient digital communication. This transition shall be realized, among others, through the development and implementation of the L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS). In order to verify the suitability of LDACS for both communications and navigation, a flight trial campaign will be performed within the nationally funded German project MICONAV. The objective of this paper is to present the planned LDACS measurement campaign. LDACS will be validated under realistic conditions: Four ground stations transmit signals; one airborne station onboard an aircraft will receive the communication messages and additionally utilize the signals from the ground stations for navigation.

Evaluation of the LDACS Cybersecurity Implementation

“…The concept was proven in theory in 2012 with simulations in 2013 showing achievable accuracy of the aircraft position of around 4m [22]. Later in 2013 and 2015, flight trials confirmed the localization accuracy of around 15m with demonstration equipment, while in 2019 it was set out in the German national project MICONAV [15] to test real-time positioning. All of the aforementioned steps confirm, that LDACS can be used as a true navigation substitute for En-Route (ENR) continental flights in case of DME or GPS outage.…”

Towards Modern Air-to-Air Communications: the LDACS A2A Mode

“…In addition, the L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System (LDACS) completes the FCI by supporting both air-ground (A/G) and air-to-air (A2A) communications using the LDACS A/G and LDACS A2A communication modes, respectively. Whereas the LDACS A/G mode is already fully developed, has been demonstrated in flights trials in March/April 2019 in the MICONAV project [2], and is currently undergoing the standardization process of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the LDACS A2A mode is currently being developed within the German national project IntAirNet.…”