Better Data Communications Make Greener Airlines. Several contributions, страница 2

 

Connectivity Network Architecture

An EC funded 7th Framework Research project has been tasked with reducing the number of aircraft radios systems to a reconfigurable system that will fully integrate with the future Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) concepts, aiming for:

  • Integration of a full range of applications and services
  • Secure networks
  • Effective firewalls between passenger and cockpit domain
  • Network integration
  • Unification of networking protocols
  • Inter-working of different radio access technologies through a common IP-based aeronautical network
  • Integration of radio technologies in an Integrated Modular Radio platform
  • Hybrid Ku/L band Satcom antenna to develop an asymmetric high rate Data Link

The diagram below shows the system architecture concept envisioned by the EC research project.

 

Connectivity Layer 2 Architecture

Security and safety

However, the aviation community has also raised security concerns, insisting that the airborne network architecture consists of several securely segregated domains when using shared resources. Security must be designed into the network at multiple layers, into the network as a whole and into individual components. There are different security aspects and risks for each domain (risk-based security approach):

  • Aircraft Control -> flight safety, availability, confidentiality
  • Airline Operations -> integrity, confidentiality
  • Passenger/Cabin -> confidentiality

A security failure of the avionics could result in exposure of confidential data, compromise the integrity of the data, or affect the availability of the data. Attacks could come from the Passenger/Cabin domain in an attempt to reach the cockpit. Security controls or functions of the modems, the server(s) and its Ethernet interfaces should therefore be resistant to such failures, yet the OSI Model layer 2 (Media Access Control layer) typically implemented as Ethernet, has no inherent security. Once an hacker has direct access to layer two, full compromise of the system is possible. Security controls must therefore be implemented at higher layers as well as in the physical environment. This means that the Ethernet interface should allow authenticated and encrypted connections when needed for the different domains and that steps should be taken to ensure that malicious cabin network activities cannot interfere with higher security domains. Insert altimeter image

Significant returns

Provided all planned Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme phases will be implemented, the operational efficiency gains and aviation carbon footprint reduction will be very significant indeed by the year 2020. European airspace en-route capacity is expected to increase by 31-40% and Flight inefficiency reduced by 25% (i.e. by more than 2 km/flight/year). Delays are set to reduce by 1.2 minutes/flight while traffic may increase up to 15.8 Million flights/year. Emissions are expected to reduce through approx. 3% fuel saving, leading to 125-155 Ktonnes per year less CO2 and removing up to 44% ground emissions at a typical hub airport. The associated cost savings are estimated at €0.7 - 1.1Bn/year for scheduled airlines. By 2020, the direct ATM cost is forecasted to be reduced from €800 to €630 per flight, and50% ATM cost per flight reduction thereafter.  Most of these savings can be achieved by more efficient ATM, targeting 98% of flights to depart on time and under 5% of flights to be less than 3 minutes delayed at arrival. More effective en-route airspace management based on flight path Trajectory Management and Automation will permit reduction of aircraft separation. This is the distance aircraft have to be kept apart to compensate actual heading and altitude inaccuracies. Future en-route clearances will be issued as initially 3D and later 4D Precision Trajectory Clearances, exploiting data links and trajectory exchange capability with the resulting navigation precision. This will allow the delegation of separation responsibility from ATM to the pilot for a specific situation: the controller detects situation - flight crew executes resolution. Insert Runway Ahead However, flight crews need to be equally supported to benefit from the technologies. The cockpit avionics will be adapted to reduce pilot workload whilst offering enhanced capabilities. Synthetic Vision Systems will provide flight crew with synthetic/graphical view, using terrain imagery and position/altitude on Head Up Display (HUD) technology to facilitate approach and ground operations in low visibility. Remote Tower Operations will exploit remote sensors in real-time, enhancing safety of oeprations in a cost effective way.

Rainer Koll is Managing Director of Rainer J. Koll Consulting Ltd (www.rjk-consulting.co.uk) and he specialises in Aerospace and Telecom. Rainer is a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society and has managed large avionics businesses and major technology development programmes.