The PMA-209 CNS/ATM team acquires, integrates, and certifies communication, navigation and surveillance systems in Navy and Marine Corps aircraft to comply with national and worldwide civil and military airspace requirements.  These capabilities include 8.33 kHz, Mode S, PBN, RVSM, and ADS-B (Out).

The CNS/ATM Surveillance Team provides Mode S and ADS-B (Out) integration technical support to the various NAVAIR Program Offices.  In support of the January 2020 FAA mandate for ADS-B (Out) capability, the team is currently engaged with the following efforts for integration and certification:

• Writing integration guides that reference the requirements in the following documents

    – NAVAIR Functional Requirements Document

    – Interface Control Documents

    – RTCA D0-181 and 00-2608

    – FAA Advisory Circulars

• Capabilities supported by the Surveillance Team include:

    – ADS-B (Out) Integrations

    – Mode S Integrations

    – Mode S 24-Bit Aircraft Address Assignments

    – ADS-B Position Source (EGl/GPS) Qualifications Evaluations

    – Air Data Computer Output Verifications

    – Transponders Upgrades and Interface Verifications

Product Details

The hardware used for USN ADS-B (Out) capability is varied based on platform, but generally consists of:

• Military ADS-B (Out) Transponders

    – AN/APX-123

    – AN/APX-119

    – AN/DPX-7

• Civil Transponders

    – Garmin

    – L3/ACSS

• The Department of Defense self-certifies state aircraft for civil airspace interoperability.  PMA209, as the Center of Technical Excellence, has the responsibility to ensure integration of CNS/ATM capabilities are in accordance with CNS/ATM Functional Requirements Documents. After the successful completion of integration and test, PMA209, with AIR 4.5 Technical Authority concurrence, certifies platform configurations as CNS/ATM compliant.

    – For non-Navy customers (e.g., Coast Guard), PMA209 can provide a certification recommendation

• The CNS/ATM capabilities include:

    – 8.33 kHz Channel Spacing

        • Divides Very High Frequency (VHF) radio 25 kHz bandwidth channels into 8.33 kHz channels, increasing the available channels for future use

        • Required for VHF communications for Air Traffic services within Eurocontrol. Without it, anticipate flight delays and/or re-routing

    – Required Navigation Performance Area Navigation (RNP RNAV)

        • Assures navigation performance accuracy in airspace worldwide

        • Without it, aircraft are excluded from use of direct, optimal, fuel efficient routes

        • Will become increasing important as legacy FAA VOR and ILS systems are discontinued within the NAS

    – Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM)

        • Reduces vertical separation of aircraft to achieve capacity and operational benefits

        • Without it, aircraft are restricted to flight below a certain level

    – Mode Select (S)

        • Combines a data link and Secondary Surveillance Radar system enabling automatic interrogation and response of aircraft position, velocity, identification, and other pertinent information

        • Required for flight through EUROCONTROL airspace. Without it, anticipate flight delays and/or re-routing

    – Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (Out) (ADS-B (Out))

        • Broadcasts a platform’s position, velocity, identification, and other pertinent information enabling improvements in aviation safety and operational efficiency

        • Utilizes Mode S

        • Without it, there could be restrictions on access to Sovereign Civil Air Space Worldwide