Air Traffic Management Concept Baseline Definition - The Boeing ...

technology will enable the use of the several available links depending upon the most
efficient communication pathway. The pathway chosen will be transparent to the user, but
will be affected by aircraft location, message type, message criticality, and pathway
availability.
The draft document on RCP (RTCA, 1997) establishes the end-to-end requirements for
the communication component of the CNS/ATM operating environment. The following
paragraphs provide further details of the RCP concept.
5.1.2.1 Required Communication Performance Concept
Required Communication Performance is a statement of the operational communication
performance delay, integrity and availability necessary for flight within a defined airspace,
or for an aircraft to perform a specified operation or procedure. Figure 5.1 illustrates a
generic system configuration for the exchange of air/ground information. An RCP is
determined by cognizant authorities in consideration of environmental factors such as
target levels of safety, separations, flight operation standards, and hazards associated with
the airspace or procedure.
ATS Facility
Data
To
User
Aircraft
Aircraft
System
End
System
Air/Ground
Networks
Ground/Ground
Networks
ATS System
End
System
Data
To
User
Voice
Voice
Figure 5.1 Generic System Configuration For The Exchange Of Air/Ground Information
As RCP evolves to its formal definition, it will define the communication performance of
the individual components (i.e., the aircraft subsystem, the air/ground networks, the
ground/ground networks and the ATS subsystem) on an end-to-end basis, both for Voice
and Data communications. The requirements must be stated in technology independent
terms and, to a degree, independent of architecture, in order to accommodate alternative
technologies and architectures.
5.1.2.2 Installed Communication Performance
Installed communication performance (ICP) is a statement of the aggregate performance
of a given communication system, as depicted in Figure 5.1, and the service arrangements
and levels that have been arranged for with air/ground service providers. ICP is expressed
in the same terms and with the same parameters as RCP. The total user-to-user ICP T is a
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