LDACS Flight Trials: Demonstration of ATS-B2, IPS, and Seamless Mobility

The current VHF communications infrastructure for air traffic management is struggling to keep up with growing traffic volume. To address this issue, a new digital aeronautical data link called L-band Digital Aeronautical Communications system (LDACS) has been introduced. To be considered for implementation the maturity of LDACS has to be advanced. To achieve the required technology readiness level of TRL6, SESAR project PJ33 developed a technological validation platform to conduct flight trials and verify the LDACS data link in a realistic setting. The objective of this paper is to present the technological validation platform used in the SESAR flight trials and to discuss the results obtained. The flight trials successfully demonstrated the ability to establish IPv6-based end-to-end connectivity over LDACS, seamless handovers between ground stations, and secure IPS communication with ATS-B2 applications. These results will be used to finalize the LDACS standardization in ICAO, EUROCAE WG-82, and preparing for LDACS standardization in AEEC.