The EU SESAR 2020 programme, an effort to modernise ageing air traffic management systems within the 27 countries of the European Union, has selected Honeywell International and Nokia to collaborate in the FACT Project, which seeks to develop the underlining infrastructure and technology for air traffic management modernisation.

Nokia will provide 4G and 5G mission-critical infrastructure, consulting and services to Project FACT, which will research future deployment of a new, consistent technology platform for communication, navigation and surveillance (CNS) services across air traffic management (ATM).

The FACT Project will deliver updates to existing CNS technologies, where it is anticipated that applications such as controller-pilot datalink communications – the method by which air traffic controllers communicate with pilots – can also be deployed over new and emerging high-bandwidth mobile broadband technologies. The project will also research potential integration of today’s conventional ATM systems with emerging U-Space services such as drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles.

Nokia will be responsible for leading a feasibility study and test specification for the evolution of legacy CNS systems to a new integrated approach. Nokia laboratory trials are projected to take place in the summer of 2021, with field testing by June 2022.

Making a move away from legacy non-IP based systems, the project is designed to enable digitalised operators to test 4G and 5G for use in aviation, supporting a common performance-based approach, and addressing the future fast-growing spectrum needs of airspace users across varied operational environments.

Programme FACT participants include Honeywell International as consortium lead, AOPA-Germany, Eskisehir Teknik Üniversitesi, EUROCONTROL, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, Nokia and Sarp Havacilik Lojistik Turizm Sanayi ve Tic A.S. The project is receiving funding from the SESAR Joint Undertaking under the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.

Mervyn Harris, Head of Air Traffic Management, Nokia said: “Project FACT is an ambitious endeavour that seeks to increase safety, security, efficiency and resilience of future air traffic communications globally through development of an integrated, next-generation CNS architecture.

“As part of the SESAR ATM Master Plan, Project FACT seeks to maximise the benefits of high-bandwidth connectivity that can handle fast-growing data volumes while also preserving utmost safety standards. This consortium assembles outstanding levels of complementary skills and expertise, and Nokia is eager to apply its aviation domain experience and industry-specific technical insight.”

Petr Casek, Lead R&D Engineer, Honeywell International and Project Fact Manager said: “We are very pleased to work with Nokia in this project. This project brings the best of two worlds together and paves the way for future high availability and improvements in quality data and communication infrastructure.

“It is exciting to see leading engineers from the telecommunications world working together with experts from the aviation sector in this project. We can only expect great results to be delivered, setting new standards that can apply on a global scale.”

Harris added: “With current mobile communications to the aircraft cockpit using limited bandwidth technology, there is a need to manage an effective transition to a more robust and scalable IP-based technology capable of handling high speeds with low latency. Project FACT has the potential to help transform CNS to meet this goal, with safety and legacy services migration support as high priorities.”