Link It is part of the Eurocontrol LINK2000+ programme. The main focus is to provide a CPDLC service throughout the whole of Europe, in order to increase sector capacity by reducing controller and pilot workload during routine operations.
The CPDLC messages suite is supported by ICAO aeronautical telecommunication network (ATN) stack and VHF data link mode 2 (VDL2) air interface protocol. ENAV is one of the "Pioneer ANSPs" within LINK2000+.
In order to activate the CPDLC service in Italy before the 'mandatory carriage' to support EUROCONTROL in the pioneer phase, SELEX ELSAG has been selected to provide OTE MGS100 ground stations supporting VDL2/ATN, VDL2/AOA (ACARS over AVLC) and plain old ACARS (POA).
OTE MGS100 is integrated with both ATN air-ground routers network and ACARS networks.
Between July 2008 and January 2009, SELEX ELSAG demonstrated to both ENAV and EUROCONTROL the OTE MGS100 capability to support CPDLC and DCL operations with real avionic systems (Honeywell and Rockwell-Collins).
Twitter