CIE ENGINEERING INC

Federal Aviation Administration WJH Technical Center

&

Japan Civil Aviation Bureau ENRI

VDL Mode 3

Interoperability Testing

26-30 July, 2004

Tokyo, Japan

CIE ENGINEERING INC

The Air/Ground Communications Group at the F.A.A. W. J. H. Technical Center conducted a successful VDL Mode 3 Interoperability Testing with the Electronic Navigation Research Institute (ENRI) in Tokyo, Japan, on July 26 through 30, 2004.

CIE Engineering was part of the engineering support team during testing activities

CIE ENGINEERING INC

VHF Digital Link (VDL) Mode 3 is a state-of-the-art technology implementation that will enhance spectrum efficiency by providing additional voice and data communications channels.

VDL is a digital alternative to further subdivision of the VHS band.

CIE ENGINEERING INC

CIE was primarily responsible for the Ground Reference Prototype (GRP) portion of the WJHTC ground system, a component that encompasses system timing and Vocoding functionality.

CIE ENGINEERING INC

The USA VDL Mode 3 test team members were Peter Muraca and Deborah Fontana of the Air/Ground Communications Group at the FAA WJHTC under the direction of Andy Colon; Rhonda Thomas, the FAA Program Officer representative from Washington, DC; Kevin Leonard and Rick Beppel of BCI and Kathy deVito and Carlos Ilarregui of CIE Engineering.

CIE ENGINEERING INC

Despite the obstacles that were presented and were overcome during the months preceding the Interoperability Testing, the Tokyo testing was very successful.

All exit criteria was performed effectively and data testing went above and beyond what the engineers anticipated would occur.

CIE ENGINEERING INC

Cultural differences between the United States and Japan created an experience that was both rewarding and exciting for the test team.