A simulation study of the communications performance of the Federal Aviation Administration Mode Select Beacon System for air traffic control

The systems is an integrated aircraft surveillance and communications system which is being implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration for use in air traffic control in the 1990s. The study was initiated in order to study the interaction of network layer entities within the Mode S system and to quantify the effect of higher-layer communication protocols on the performance of the system. In addition, the study investigates the impact of operational scenarios and data transfer techniques on the performance characteristics of the system. Simulation results are used to estimate system behavior under various air traffic conditions and confirm the suitability of the communications system to the projected air traffic environment. It is concluded that the capacity of the Mode S data link will support the projected operating scenarios.<
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