DESIGN, IMPLEMENTATION AND PERFORMANCE VALIDATION OF AN IP BASED AERONAUTICAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK USING SATELLITE LINKS

This paper presents the design, implementation and performance validation of an Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) based on IP standards and protocols comply on ICAO specifications as described in DOC 9896 manual, using a VSAT satellite links like carrier technology. The design of the network follows the operational concept and requirements defined for the CAA in Colombia. The network includes ground to ground and ground to air, radio and telephony VoIP services with the use and requirements of the EUROCAE ED-137 normative. Also ground to ground applications like AMHS, radar surveillance data and remote radio control services are supported for the ATN. The paper shows the design and implementation of the network and summarizes the methodological process used for it, taking in account key aspects like: coverage regions and ATC control sectors, medium access to the satellite, bandwidth utilization and optimization by mean of G.729 compression algorithm, number of station and interfaces for each service and permissible delays for the VoIP and data applications. Special emphasis, in the design and implementation stages, is made to the use of VoIP (ED-137) in a environment of radios in VHF extended range operation given a particular conditions of the ATC controls sectors that use different communications media (terrestrial links and satellite links) to communicate the ATC control centers and the remote stations. Finally, this paper summarizes the methodological process used for the validation of the network in a real time operational environment, resuming the final results and conclusions of the implementation stage and the future work is established.