Airtel ATN completes FANS testing with Irish Aviation Authority

Airtel ATN, dedicated to the development of communications software for the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN), has completed FANS testing of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) Shannon ATM system.

Airtel GVS –FANS (Ground Validation Software) software was used during the validation of Thales COOPANS system. The GVS-FANS allowed the simulation of large number of aircraft (up to 1,000 aircraft) connecting to the IAA via an emulated MATIP connection. The GVS-FANS allowed for valid and invalid CPDLC test scenarios.

FANS (Future Air Navigation System) is an Air/Ground Data Link system which provides text-based communication between the pilot and the Air Traffic Controller. FANS is used in Oceanic air space including North America while the ICAO ATN is used primarily in European air space. FANS-1/A is an ACARS based service, using satellite communications on the Ocean and VHF over land. Some European ANSPs including IAA have decided to accommodate FANS-1/A due to the number of aircraft already equipped with this technology.

Patrick Tarrant, Manager, Flight Data Processing Systems, IAA said “The IAA is committed to safety and is one of the pioneers in the commissioning of FANS-1/A in continental airspace which we need to ensure is done efficiently and effectively. Airtel ATN was instrumental in helping us validate our system to ensure it is working in line with the directives.”

“The IAA is ranked by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) as one of the safest ANSP’s in the world and handles 80% of all flights that cross the North Atlantic from the Shannon centre,” said Frank O’Connor, CEO, Airtel ATN. “It is Airtel ATN’s first FANS testing in Ireland and in fact one of the first test systems that supports both FANS and ATN in one piece of equipment.”