Rohde & Schwarz unveils the future with LDACS
LDACS (L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications System) is a new air-to-ground communications standard for air traffic control (ATC) communication system that offers a significant increase in bandwidth. It allows modern IP-based datalink communications, an important technology within the future communications infrastructure for aviation. LDACS offers additional security functionalities and can integrate navigation and surveillance services in addition to ATC communication services (CNS integration).
LDACS is a digital broadband radio link that enables a connection between an aircraft and the terrestrial infrastructure, just like in cellular telephony. This secure, scalable and spectrum efficient data link with embedded navigation capability is the first truly integrated CNS (communications, navigation, and surveillance) system. LDACS is being standardized by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and first flight tests with Rohde & Schwarz demonstrators have successfully validated LDACS capabilities. Large amounts of data can be exchanged in real time, like flight trajectories or flight plans. This will ultimately enable new ATC concepts like the upcoming four-dimensional (4D) trajectory or business trajectory concept and sectorless flying, both of which bring the environmental benefit of reducing emissions of CO2 and therefore the impact on climate change via optimal routing and lower fuel usage.
Rohde & Schwarz, with its decades of experience in VHF, UHF and HF communications, which are used by aircraft pilots as well as air traffic controllers, is best placed to drive the future of LDACS.