Data Link Systems Subcommittee

Last Update: October 9, 2008

Chairman: Joe Slavinsky - Federal Express

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Goal: The goal of the Data Link (DLK) Systems Subcommittee is to develop and maintain a set of ARINC Standards that promote reliable, uniform, and cost efficient transfer of data between the aircraft and various locations on the ground. These ARINC Standards cover the existing Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS®) and the emerging Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) as defined by the ICAO SARPs. Ground locations include civil aviation agencies, manufacturers of avionics and engines, data link service providers, weather providers, and departments within the airlines such as payroll, maintenance, operations, engineering, and dispatch.

Project: Maintain ACARS® Standards

Scope: This task maintains the suite of ARINC Standards which define the ACARS® air-ground network. New features will be added and refinements of existing text, in accordance with experience gained from the operational networks, will be documented.

Benefit: While ACARS® has been in operation more than 25 years, there are many additions and refinements to the system. The update of the ACARS® standards ensures the airlines will be able to specify components and have continued competition among the vendors.

Project: Develop standards to support VDL Mode 2 and the ATN

Scope: VDL Mode 2 (VDLM2) is a bit-oriented air-ground subnetwork implemented in accordance with the ATN SARPs. ARINC Specification 631 has been developed to describe the functional implementation of VDLM2.

Benefit: The development of ARINC Standards for VDL Mode 2 and ATN-compatible data link avionics will allow the airlines to procure common avionics from multiple vendors. These standards will ensure interchangeability and interoperability of these avionics components.

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AEEC General Session (October 2006) Update:

Continental Airlines expressed its strong interest in retaining the capability to manage frequency assignments in customer-modifiable software to avoid the cost associated with recertification. AEEC commended the efforts of the subcommittee to establish a basis for an increase in the number of VDLM2 frequencies in a manner that maximizes the utility of the spectrum.

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Current Drafts:

Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 2 of Supplement 19 to ARINC Specification 429: Mark 33 Digital Information Transfer System (DITS) - Part 3 - File Data Transfer Techniques (pdf, 192K)
To Obtain Complete Copy

Draft 1 of Supplement 7 to ARINC Specification 618: Air-Ground Character-Oriented Protocol

Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 3 of Supplement 3 to ARINC Specification 619: ACARS Protocols for Avionic End Systems (pdf, 40K)
To Obtain Complete Copy

Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 4 of Supplement 5 to ARINC Specification 631: VHF Digital Link (VDL) Mode 2 Implementation Provisions (pdf, 20K)
To Obtain Complete Copy

Draft 2 of Supplement 6 to ARINC Characteristic 724B: Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS)

Draft 2 of Supplement 5 to ARINC Characteristic 758: Communications Management Unit (CMU) Mark 2

Meeting Announcement:

Data Link (DLK) Systems (pdf, 26K)
November 5-7, 2008; Clearwater, Florida
Register On Line

Working Papers:

Strawman 3 for Supplement 19 to ARINC Specification 429: Mark 33 Digital Information Transfer System (DITS) - Part 3 - File Data Transfer Techniques (pdf, 478K)

Strawman 3 of Supplement 7 to ARINC Specification 618: Air-Ground Character-Oriented Protocol (pdf, 1.7M)

Strawman 3 of Supplement 3 to ARINC Specification 619: ACARS Protocols for Avionic End Systems (pdf, 347K)

Strawman 1 of Supplement 6 to ARINC Specification 620: DataLink Ground System Standard and Interface Specification (pdf, 3M)

Strawman 8 for Draft 4 of Supplement 5 to ARINC Specification 631: VHF Digital Link (VDL) Mode 2 Implementation Provisions (pdf, 1.6M)

Strawman 2 of Supplement 6 to ARINC Characteristic 724B: Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS)
(pdf, 298K)

Strawman 2 for Draft 2 of Supplement 3 to ARINC Characteristic 758: Communications Management Unit (CMU) Mark 2 (pdf, 301K)

Last Meeting Report:

Data Link (DLK) Systems Subcommittee
April 1-3, 2008; Toulouse, France

Teleconference Reports:

Teleconference 8 Report; May 18, 2008 (pdf, 79K)
Teleconference 7 Report; March 6, 2008 (pdf, 205K)
Teleconference 6 Report; February 7, 2008 (pdf, 56K)
Teleconference 5 Report; January 17, 2008 (pdf, 30K)
Teleconference 4 Report; December 20, 2007 (pdf, 22K)
Teleconference 3 Report; December 5, 2007 (pdf, 19K)
Teleconference 2 Report; November 27, 2007 (pdf, 20K)
Teleconference 1 Report; March 6, 2007 (pdf, 26K)

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