Brazil Partnering with SITA to Introduce ADS and CPDLC in South Atlantic

Brazil's Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo (DECEA) is partnering with SITA to introduce ADS-C (automatic dependent surveillance-contract) and CPDLC (controller-pilot datalink communications) in the Atlantico FIR (flight information region), which covers more than 13 million square kilometers in the South Atlantic region.

Air traffic services in this area are handled by the Atlantico Area Control Center that is operated by CINDACTA III (Third Integrated Center for Air Defense and Air Traffic Control), one of the four main ATC centers administrated by DECEA.

The control center will began offering the new services, enabled by SITA's AIRCOM satellite datalink technology by mid-year.

ADS-C differs from ADS-B (broadcast) in that the periodic messages are specifically sent from the aircraft directly to the appropriate control facility rather than openly to any receiver within range.  These point-to-point messages are part of the FANS (future air navigation system) vision of transmitting data reports directly to oceanic controllers.

Aircraft enabled for ADS transmit their identity, position, altitude and other information to ATM (air traffic management) systems on the ground where it is presented to controllers graphically.  CPDLC replaces routine voice communications between crew and air traffic controllers with a form of communications similar to email.

ADS/CPDLC was introduced in the South Pacific region in the early 1990s based on the Inmarsat AMSS (aeronautical mobile satellite system) and GPS infrastructure and aircraft capabilities that existed at the time.  Since then states in all regions of the globe either are already, or soon will be introducing ADS/CPDLC-enabled services.

DECEA decided to introduce prototype FANS services in the Atlantico FIR in 2002. Its current initiative is in response to targets set by ICAO, and Brazil's commitment with adjacent South Atlantic states that are collectively responsible for the delivery of air navigation services in the entire oceanic region.  03-12-2008.

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