The Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) testbed

The Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) is being defined within the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a digital data communications network for the aeronautical community. ATN routers will link the diverse networks and technologies within the aeronautical environment into an internetwork. The routers provide intelligence to select the best communications path for each pair of users. Mobile routing is the key element that makes ATN unique from most networks. Mobile routing allows a ground system to communicate to an aircraft, without interruption, as it flies in and out of coverage of various air/ground subnetworks. The Center for Advanced Aviation Systems Development (CAASD) developed the Aeronautical Communication Engineering Testbed (ACET) to evaluate the ATN for the US Federal Aviation Administration.