Washington, D.C., Feb. 29, 2000 ¾ Aeronautical Communication International (ACI LLC) has delivered today a major software component to Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), the Prime Contractor selected by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), for the CPDLC-IA (Controller-Pilot Data Link Communication) Project.

This software component, delivered on time by ACI, will allow CSC to field ground end-user application systems (host computer systems) supporting next-generation Air Traffic Control (ATC) Data Link services. These services (Context Management and Controller Pilot Data Link Communication), implemented in the FAA’s CPDLC-IA Project, rely on the robust and high-performance communication services provided by the new aeronautical internet, the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN).

Both the ACI Application Service Elements (ASE) software and the associated ATN router software (the ATN Router Reference Implementation, or RRI, developed by ACI under contract to ATN Systems, Inc.) have been planned and conceived specifically with aeronautical safety-critical applications in mind. This has necessitated a rigorous software development process following the guidelines for Flight Essential software (Level C) called out in RTCA DO-178B. This, along with the design for portability features, allows the products to be readily used for both ground-based and airborne applications of ATC Data Link Services, a first for the industry.

"ACI has achieved a major milestone through its on-time delivery of a quality ASE software product, developed for safety-critical application, and compliant with existing industry and governmental standards," said Forrest Colliver, ACI General Manager.

The ASE software product development was undertaken as an independent initiative of ACI, in conjunction with ACI’s development of the Router Reference Implementation (RRI) software for ATN Systems, Inc. "By completing these two challenging programs, ACI is now in position to offer a complete suite of certifiable, portable, interoperable and safety-critical mission-ready ATN software products, supporting both router and end-system applications, for both airborne and ground-based system environments", Colliver said.

ACI has also undertaken the development of similar software products to address Automatic Dependent Surveillance and Flight Information Service applications over ATN.

In the context of CPDLC-I and CPDLC-IA Projects, CSC has also contracted ACI to provide support for the integration of the RRI/ASE software within the ATN infrastructure. In addition to ACI’s unique expertise in the development of certifiable operational airborne and ground-based ATN software, ACI offers comprehensive expertise in the areas of aeronautical communication technology and end-to-end air/ground interoperability assurance.

ACI is a joint venture of Airsys ATM, Honeywell, Sextant, and Sofreavia which was formed to develop and market key aeronautical data communications products and services associated with the Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) for both airborne and ground applications. The members of the Joint Venture bring their significant experience in both airborne and ground-based aeronautical products and services to ACI. ACI has offices in Paris and Toulouse, France, and Phoenix, Arizona and Redmond, Washington.

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