An updated draft version of the ANTARES technical specifications and associated implementation guidelines is now available for download. Produced by the Iris ANTARES project, this document defines a new satellite-based communication standard for air traffic management (ATM).
The specifications set out in the document address the user, control and management layers of the communication protocols used by aircraft to exchange data with ground control. The current version is the result of design activities completed during the ANTARES project, and will be used as a baseline for the development of the Verification Test-Bed (VTB) for the communication standard.
The requirements for the ANTARES design were defined by the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) programme. ESA, workingin close collaboration with SESAR, aims to design a solutionwhich will become standardised by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.
Thales Alenia Space, Italy, was awarded the ANTARES contract in 2009. Working with a team of top representatives from the aviation world and the space industry, the ANTARES project set out to produce a satellite communications standard as well as the design and implementation of the associated infrastructure.
Under the leadership of Thales Alenia Space, INDRA (ES) has been responsible for the design of the communication protocols. The design involved input from both the aviation and telecommunication industries. Participants have included Airtel ATN (IE), Capgemini Norge (NO), Evolving Systems Consulting (CZ), Frequentis (AT), Honeywell International (CZ), Next (IT), SINTEF ICT (NO), Skysoft (PT), DLR(DE), Space Engineering (IT), Thales Alenia Space France (FR), Thales Avionics (UK), the University of Salzburg (AT), SINTEF (NO), ANTWERP SPACE (BE), and WISER (IT).
In January 2014, a testbed will be released to verify the new standard’s performance. A full verification campaign will follow and the ANTARES study will release the final specifications, with associated implementation guidelines, in the second quarter of 2014.
