A platform for securing inter-agency flight information exchange

The primary focus of the FAA Collaborative Information Management (CIM) program is on interoperability between US partner agencies and the FAA. Much of the information in the partner agency's systems is operationally sensitive or classified and cannot be released, nor can it be broadcasted unencrypted on any public data links including Mode-S and Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS) Extended Squitter (ES). The concept of increased safety and efficiency by use of widely shared operational information between FAA systems and partner agency ground systems relies on greatly enhanced interoperability for information sharing among coalition partners and government agencies, supporting information sharing policies and governances. The purpose of the CIM II program is to inform future decision making regarding controlled, secure information sharing between the partner agencies and the FAA and other Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSP) as they develop and implement their respective data communications and information sharing security requirements. This paper describes a phased R&D approach, operational use cases, and a Live Virtual Constructive (LVC) simulation platform for secure exchange of flight information between the FAA System Wide Information Management (SWIM) Security Service and a simulated DoD system in support of interagency operations and standards-based global interoperability. A case study example is presented to discuss the key elements that support the operational scenarios for inter-agency information sharing, primarily of flight information.