VHF Data Link

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The VHF Data Link or VHF Digital Link (VDL) is a means of sending information between aircraft and ground stations (and in the case of VDL Mode 4, other aircraft). Aeronautical VHF data links use the band 117.975–137 MHz assigned by the

Controller Pilot Data Link Communications
(CPDLC).

ICAO VDL Mode 1

The ICAO AMCP defined this Mode for validation purposes. It was the same as VDL Mode 2 except that it used the same VHF link as VHF ACARS so it could be implemented using analog radios before VHF Digital Radio implementation was completed. The ICAO AMCP completed validation of VDL Modes 1&2 in 1994, after which the Mode 1 was no longer needed and was deleted from the ICAO standards.

ICAO VDL Mode 2

The ICAO VDL Mode 2 is the main version of VDL. It has been implemented in a Eurocontrol Link 2000+ program and is specified as the primary link in the EU

CPDLC.[1]

In advance of CPDLC implementation, VDL Mode 2 has already been implemented in approximately 2,000 aircraft to transport ACARS messages simplifying the addition of CPDLC. Networks of ground stations providing VDL Mode 2 service have been deployed by

SITA
with varying levels of coverage.

The ICAO standard for the VDL Mode 2 specifies three layers: the Subnetwork, Link, and Physical Layer. The Subnetwork Layer complies with the requirements of the

ICAO Aeronautical Telecommunication Network
(ATN) standard which specifies an end-to-end data protocol to be used over multiple air-ground and ground subnetworks including VDL.

The VDL Mode 2 Link Layer is made up of two sublayers: a Data Link service and a

Carrier Sense Multiple Access
(CSMA).

The VDL Mode 2 Physical Layer specifies the use in a 25 kHz wide VHF channel of a modulation scheme called Differential 8-Phase-shift keying with a symbol rate of 10,500 symbols per second. The raw (uncoded) physical layer bit rate is thus 31.5 kilobit/second.[2] This required the implementation of VHF digital radios.

ICAO VDL Mode 3

The ICAO standard for VDL Mode 3 defines a protocol providing aircraft with both data and digitized voice communications that was defined by the US FAA with support from Mitre. The digitized voice support made the Mode 3 protocol much more complex than VDL Mode 2. The data and digitized voice packets go in Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) slots assigned by ground stations. The FAA implemented a prototype system around 2003 but did not manage to convince airlines to install VDL Mode 3 avionics and in 2004 abandoned its implementation.

ICAO VDL Mode 4

The ICAO standard for VDL Mode 4 specifies a protocol enabling aircraft to exchange data with ground stations and other aircraft.

VDL Mode 4 uses a protocol (Self-organized Time Division Multiple Access,

STDMA, invented by Swede Håkan Lans
in 1988) that allows it to be self-organizing, meaning no master ground station is required. This made it much simpler to implement than VDL Mode 3.

In November 2001 this protocol was adopted by

ADS-B
transmissions. However it was overtaken as the link for ADS-B by the Mode S radar link operating in the 1,090 MHz band which was selected as the primary link by the ICAO Air Navigation Conference in 2003.

The VDL Mode 4 medium can also be used for air-ground exchanges. It is best used for short message transmissions between a large number of users, e.g. providing situational awareness, Digital Aeronautical Information Management (D-AIM), etc..

European Air Traffic Management modernization trials have implemented ADS-B and air-ground exchanges using VDL Mode 4 systems. However, on air transport aircraft the operational implementations of ADS-B will use the

CPDLC will use VDL Mode 2.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Data Link Services Implementing Rule". February 21, 2011. Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  2. ^ "VHF air - ground Digital Link (VDL) Mode 2; Technical characteristics and methods of measurement for ground- based equipment; Part 1: Physical layer and MAC sub- layer" (PDF). ETSI. Retrieved June 29, 2014.
  3. ^ "Airlines propose ADS-B implementation sites" (PDF). February 21, 2008. Retrieved September 10, 2009.

External links

Mode 2:

Mode 4:

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