The Global Link - Arinc
The Global Link - Arinc
The Global Link - Arinc
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
November 2011 | #43<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Global</strong> <strong>Link</strong><br />
GLOBA<strong>Link</strong><br />
Voice & Data Communications<br />
GLOBA<strong>Link</strong>/HFDL<br />
Dynamic Frequencies<br />
Contact the Author<br />
ARINC has recently enhanced the HFDL service to provide faster and more efficient<br />
communication. Read on to learn how.<br />
<strong>The</strong> HFDL system is licensed to operate on 167 frequencies across 15 stations worldwide.<br />
John Patterson<br />
Principal Engineer,<br />
Customer Services,<br />
ARINC<br />
tel: +1 410.266.4249<br />
john.patterson@arinc.com<br />
Over the course of the 11 year solar cycle, certain frequencies will be needed during the<br />
different phases of the cycle. Each ground station is assigned a portion of those frequencies<br />
for use and the HF Radio on board every equipped aircraft (over 1600 to date!) has all 167<br />
frequencies loaded in its memory. So no matter where an aircraft may fly, it can scan that<br />
memory and find an operating frequency for ARINC HFDL.<br />
Scanning the table of frequencies can be time consuming for the radio, so to make the<br />
process more efficient and reduce search and login times, ARINC has equipped each<br />
station with the ability to remotely program the ground station transceivers with the most<br />
efficient set of frequencies for the current phase of the solar cycle. <strong>The</strong> airborne radios will<br />
concurrently receive frequency<br />
assignment updates over the<br />
air without any intervention<br />
by flight crews, engineering or<br />
maintenance personnel. Keeping<br />
the radios in DATA mode even in<br />
full VHF or SATCOM coverage will<br />
allow the radios to receive the<br />
updates without interrupting the<br />
flow of ACARS ® messages.<br />
This streamlining will not only<br />
Located in a remote section of the tundra outside the town of Barrow<br />
Alaska, this TCI-530 antenna delivers critical ACARS message for polar make initial search and login<br />
crossing aircraft.<br />
faster, but will also allow for more<br />
efficient and thorough background scanning while the aircraft is connected to the HFDL<br />
network. <strong>The</strong> aircraft radio maintains a dynamic list of active frequencies in its memory<br />
for smooth transitions across coverage areas. An efficient list of deployed frequencies<br />
across the HFDL network will ensure smoother transitions and keep the radio’s dynamic list<br />
populated with multiple options for connecting with the ARINC HFDL network, thus further<br />
increasing the reliability of delivering flight critical messages.<br />
ARINC endeavors to continually improve our customer’s experience and welcomes any<br />
feedback to keep HFDL hopping!<br />
4
Change language