The Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN)

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has endorsed a concept for future aeronautical communications, which uses digital data links to supplement voice communications and provide improved air traffic services. A necessary part of this concept is an international infrastructure that manages digital data transfer between aircraft and civil air traffic control facilities. This communications infrastructure is the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN). It is the intention of certain ICAO member states to provide air traffic services (ATS) that require ATN avionics. As the civil-controlled airspace moves toward requiring new communication capabilities, the military will need to accommodate the ATN if worldwide-unrestricted airspace access is to be maintained. A description of the ATN is provided in this paper. This description includes the ATN solutions for mobility, low-bandwidth, and preference services. Typical applications of the ATN are also described, as well as implementation status. The paper concludes with a review of present military stratagems for the ATN.