ATN/OSI over sandra mobile IP network: A way to allow existing ATM solutions to leverage any broadband aircraft-ground link technologies

The current Air/Ground mobile technology used for ATN/OSI is VDL Mode-2. In time, other mobile technologies will be used such as Satellite Communications, for example possibly INMARSAT and Iridium, and other ground based systems, for example AeroMACS. These mobile technologies already support networking using the IP protocol suite. ICAO 9896 has been defined as the solution to allow ATN applications to exchange over IP mobile networks. However, ICAO 9896 impacts all elements in the ATN communication path, from the mobile system to the ground end system, and mid-term need may justify an interim solution allowing an ATN/OSI stack to use IP-based satellite solutions, as well as Surface broadband solution (AeroMACS). SANDRA project defined and demonstrated a possible solution to this need, i.e. the integration of mobile IP networks as an ATN/OSI sub network between aircraft and ground. The ICAO SARPS already define an IP sub network dependent convergence function, IP-SNDCF, for using IP networks as an ATN/OSI sub network. IP-SNDCF was originally intended for fixed ground network. This presentation describes how the IP-SNDCF can be adapted and used successfully for Mobile Networks and how this was demonstrated in the EU SANDRA project. IP-SNDCF is now a realistic way of communication for ATN/OSI and simplified network deployment, as existing IP network can be used. The advantage of a Mobile IP-SNDCF is that Avionics and Ground Stations can implement a single (or multiple but standardized) SNDCF for all mobile communication technologies instead of having different interfaces for each technology which is the case at present.