Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers   project integrator

Hello Jeroen:

I am working on an aviation research project for the MITRE Corp (in the US), which is looking at using VATSIM as a research tool.

One of my tasks this year is to look carefully at "datalink equipping" VATSIM and examine cost-benefit tradeoffs. I know datalink already exists in Europe through FANS/1, but it does not exist in the US. If your ACARS capability is available so that we can make use of it, then we'd like to use it, provided suitable licensing arrangements can be made. I have some questions. I'm sure they'll lead to other questions...

0. It sounds like your whole ACARS suite of software products is what we call ATN in the US, with some ATN applications.... like ADS, CPDLC, and ACARS (which in this case uses your simulated ATN instead of a simulated ARINC). Would you agree or disagree with this?

ATN= Aeronautical Telecommunications Network.

I've been aware of your ACARS capability for about a year, but overlooked it since it was named "ACARS", and right now we are not doing any work with ACARS.

1. Does your system have a Context Management application? How does this work? How are air clients made aware of changes to the data authorities that are available?

2. From your CPDLC application, which of the dynamic functions are supported? Right now, I am particularly interested in DLIC, ACM and ACL.

3. How are clients authenticated?

4. Are you familiar with the mockups at http://www.eurocontrol.int/link2000/public/standard_page/pilot_atco_mock... ?

Thanks very much.