National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Aeronautical Mobile Airport

Communications System (AeroMACS)
Technical Development Briefing

NASA Glenn Research Center

Rafael Apaza

10/17/2016

Eighteenth Workshop Meeting on the ICAO

South America Implementation Meeting

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Presentation Outline

•  Background
•  AeroMACS Technology and Applications
•  NASA CNS Test Bed
•  Development and Trials
•  Future Work
•  Standardization and WiMAX Forum
•  Concluding Remarks

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Why Airport Surface Wireless

Communications?
Today Tomorrow
Wired Wireless
Infrastructure Infrastructure

•  Aging (40 yrs.) •  Scalable

•  Costly deployment •  Agile
•  Rigid •  Flexible
•  Costly maintenance •  Affordable
•  Buried infrastructure •  Implements new
•  Vulnerable protocols
•  Limited availability •  Supports fixed and
•  Point-to-point mobile nodes
•  Noise susceptibility •  Networked

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AeroMACS Background
AeroMACS – a wireless airport surface communications technology based on IEEE
802.16e standard designed to deliver critical networked communications services
to mobile and fixed systems
•  Airport Wireless Communications (AeroMACS)
concept developed by NASA Glenn under Space
Based Technologies (SBT) Project 2002-2006.
•  After SBT ended, NASA-FAA partnership continued
AeroMACS development (SAA 3-978)
•  In 2007, ITU’s WRC07, the extended 5091-5150
MHz MLS for Airport Surface communications
(wheels down).
•  NASA GRC in partnership with FAA developed
AeroMACS prototype system utilizing NASA GRC
CNS Test Bed facility
•  AeroMACS is part of NextGen and SESAR
technology portfolio for airport surface operational
improvements
•  FAA has initiated the first round of AeroMACS
deployments for fixed nodes – 9 airports
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AeroMACS Technology Description

AeroMACS is a Digital Broadband Wireless Access system

•  Member of “Mobile WiMAX” (IEEE802.16e)

•  Operates in AM(R)S band (5091-5150 MHz, Bandwidth = 5 MHz)
•  TDD/OFDMA
•  Adaptive Modulation and Coding: QPSK, 16QAM & 64QAM
•  Adaptive MIMO Switching - MIMO-A/STC & MIMO-B/SM (Optional)
•  Quality of Service (QoS)
•  Enables IP-based “High Speed Wireless Access“
•  Downlink/Uplink ratio adjustable: 26:21, 29:18, 32:15 & 35:12
•  Provides “Security” using SS/MS Certificate, Security Keys and
Encryptions
•  Supports “Mobility” (up to 50 knots = 92.6 km/h)

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AeroMACS Applications: Fixed and Mobile

Air Traffic Air Carriers Airports

ü  AT Comm. ü  Surface Mgmt. ü  Fire & Rescue
Mobile ü  AAtS ü  Fueling ü  Wild Life Mgmt.
ü  Gate Clearance ü  Weather ü  Mobile Security
Apps ü  NOTAMS ü  De-icing ü  RWY Status
ü  Surface 4 DT ü  EFB ü  Coordination
ü  ATIS ü  Flight Info.

ü  Surveillance ü  Ramp Mgmt. ü  Security Gates

Fixed ü  Weather ü  Flight Ops. ü  Construction
ü  Navigation Aids ü  Ramp Services ü  NOTAM-D
Apps ü  Visual Aids ü  Baggage ü  Lighting

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NASA GRC CNS Test Bed Configuration

2006 - NASA GRC in partnership with industry and government established
the CNS Test Bed in North East Ohio

•  Originally test bed consisted of three Test Frequencies

airports (BLK, CLE and LPR) and the 5005 MHz 5105 MHz Test Bed
NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) 5015 MHz 5110 MHz Locations
5025 MHz 5115 MHz
•  Today’s configuration consists or 5095 MHz 5120 MHz CLE
NASA GRC and Cleveland Hopkins 5100 MHz 5125 MHz
Airport -  CMF
-  ASH
•  Objectives: -  Glycol Tank
•  Prototype -  Snow Barn
•  Evaluate -  ARFF
•  Measure -  Terminal C
•  Reduce risk
GRC
•  Applied Research
•  Advanced Integrated Surveillance -  Bldg. 4
-  Bldg. 110
•  Airport Surface Wireless
Communications
FAA
•  Secure Information Sharing
7 - Subscriber Station (SS)
•  Staffed Virtual Tower -  ALSF
2 - Base Station (BS)
•  Precise 4-D Trajectory Negotiation 1 - Control Room

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AeroMACS NASA Trials and Investigation

•  Aircraft Mobile Application Testing – AeroMACS testing on

Boeing 737-700 corporate aircraft
–  Weather to the cockpit using EFB, System Performance
–  Antenna performance
–  Throughput Validation
–  Partners: Boeing, United Airlines, WSI, ITT, FAA, NASA,
CLE Airport Authority
•  Surveillance Video Test – First trial using terminal radar video
•  RTCA, ICAO, WiMAX standards and technical profile
development support
–  US RTCA standards DO-345 and
–  International Civil Aviation Organization SARPS
completed
•  Standard Compliance Trial – First compliance system test
and demonstration with Hitachi Corp.
•  World Wide satellite interference analysis

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NASA Prototype Compliance Testing

Hitachi Prototype Testing

•  Throughput Test:
–  5MHz channel can provide total throughput of 11
Mbps (Downlink + Uplink)
•  Quality of Service (QoS) Test
–  Technical Standard (Network) was validated: the
reserved bandwidth is guaranteed.
–  It was validated that a single MS accommodates
multiple QoS class communication links
•  Initial Network Entry (INE) Test
–  INE time depends on scan step and range
–  INE on the Runway succeeded and the necessary
INE time was a bit longer (5MHz step: 4.50 sec,
250kHz step: 26.67 sec) because of longer T2 time
–  SARPs requirement (90 seconds) can be realized
(maximum 26 sec at the Field Trial)
•  Mobility and Handover Test
–  Mobility validation: AeroMACS link maintained
throughout Runway drive @50/22 knots with
handover. Latency: 200 msec.

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SWIM Data over AeroMACS

•  Test Case 1
–  This test case transports SWIM data over
AeroMACS.
–  SWIM Accessibility
–  Data Throughput
–  Aircraft runway speed: 45 Knots.
•  Test Case 2
–  This case will exchange SWIM data plus emulated
airline data communications with AOC.
–  Radome antenna evaluation
–  Aircraft runway speed: 55 Knots
•  Test Case 3
–  This case will exchange SWIM data plus emulated
airline data communications with AOC and
emulated radar data exchange.
–  Handover performance
–  Aircraft runway speed: 60 Knots

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AeroMACS test at Boston Logan Airport

•  FAA Airports, FAA Technical

Center
•  1st Airport\Airline Operational
Use
•  Test Representative Uses
–  Radar (Ship or Bird Radar)
–  Video
–  Weather
–  Security\Perimeter Monitoring
–  Airline Use
•  Preliminary Site Survey
•  MOA with FAA
•  MPA/FAA/Airline partnership
•  ~2-year effort

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NASA Future Trial and Testing

•  Interoperability: Hardware and software •  Application performance test: VoIP

subscriber station compatibility •  Internet Protocol Suite Trial and
•  Security: Evaluate different system security Evaluation: IPV4/6, Roaming, etc.
concepts and configurations •  End-to-end Service Delivery:
(Authentication, authorization, etc.) Latency, Jitter, etc.

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AeroMACS Standards Development

•  Started in 2009 with the RTCA Special Committee 223 (SC-223)

and the European Organization for Civil Aviation Equipment
(EUROCAE) Working Group 82 (WG-82). They published a
MOPS and Profile for AeroMACS based on IEEE std 802.16-2009
in 2014.
•  EUROCAE is continuing development of the AeroMACS Minimum
Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS).
•  ICAO ACP WGS finalized the AeroMACS SARPS and completed
development of AeroMACS Technical Manual.
•  Finally, the WiMAX Forum’s Aviation Working Group (AWG) has
been engaged throughout AeroMACS development process,
releasing AeroMACS Certification Requirement Status List
(CRSL) and Protocol Implementation Conformance Statement
(PICS).

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WiMAX Forum

§  Industry-led, not-for-profit organization, certifies and promotes the

compatibility and interoperability of certain wireless broadband
technologies across various industries ranging from
Telecommunications (WiMAX) up to Aviation (AeroMACS) since 2001.

§  With regards to Aviation industry, the WiMAX Forum has been
instrumental in all stages of AeroMACS’ growth, from its initial launch,
when we facilitated the development of a system profile, to current
global expansion efforts.

§  Key authorities such as the FAA, EUROCONTROL, and the ICAO
regularly attend Forum aviation-centric events in which industry
leaders, experts and technology providers are able to collaborate and
share real-world knowledge, focused specifically on the deployment of
standardized broadband networks for the aviation industry.

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WiMAX Forum Members

Key Members in Aviation

•  Aviation Data Communication Corporation, §  Honeywell
China (ADCC) §  Leonardo (Finmeccanica/SELEX)
•  Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia §  Metropolitan Washington Airport
•  CelPlan Authority
•  ConvergEX Technologies §  MITRE Corporation
•  DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung §  NASA
•  Embry Riddle Aeronautical University §  Powertech Labs
•  EUROCONTROL §  Sequans
•  FAA §  Shinsei Corporation
•  Gemtek §  Siemens
•  Harris §  Symantec
•  Hitachi §  Telrad Networks
§  United Airlines

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Aviation Working Group (AWG)

WiMAX Forum® AWG has facilitated a WiMAX Forum® AWG AeroMACS programs
number of regional aviation events such as: in process:

Aviation Washington
September 2013, Washington DC, USA
AeroMACS Certification
Aviation Brussels
Hosted by EUROCONTROL
May 2014, Brussels, Belgium

AeroMACS Track
Hosted at Wireless China Summit
AeroMACS X.509 Public Key
September 2014, Beijing, China Infrastructure (PKI)
Aviation Sendai
Hosted by Hitachi, JCAB and ENRI
November 2014, Sendai, Japan
AeroMACS FCC Service Policy
Aviation Madrid
Hosted at World ATM Congress Petition
March 2015, Madrid, Spain
AeroMACS Track
Hosted at Wireless China Summit
September 2015, Beijing, China
AeroMACS Seminars
AeroMACS National Harbor
Hosted at ATCA Congress
November 2015, National Harbor, USA

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SFO CLE SYR ACY TLS OBF MXP CTU SDJ

WORLDWIDE CONTRIBUTIONS
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Concluding Remarks

•  AeroMACS is a standardized broadband wireless

communications technology for use on the airport surface.
•  Design to securely meet operational needs of mobile and
fixed platforms.
•  Operates in protected AMR(S) spectrum: 5091-5150 MHz
and 5000-5030 MHz
•  Federal Aviation Administration initiated AeroMACS
deployment to transport Airport Surface Surveillance
Capability sensor information
•  Investigation and trials taking place in different countries
around the world
•  AeroMACS opens up new information exchange possibilities
for stake holders operating on the airport surface

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