Ian Sheppard has acted as Editor International Show Editions for AIN since June 2013. Based in the Redhill, England, Ian reports for the various AIN publications as well as providing support to International Editor Charles Alcock in covering international air shows (such as Farnborough, Paris, Singapore and Dubai), and the EBACE and MEBA business aviation events. His central role is to cover Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Prior to becoming more involved with AIN in mid-2011 (initially as deputy international editor), Ian worked for various aviation publications through his company, First Aerospace Media. This included being part of the AIN team covering daily news at international air shows.
Ian has worked for publications such as Flight International (technical reporter, 1997-8) and Aerospace International (editor, 1999-2000). He was publications manager at Airclaims (Ascend) between 2000 and 2004 before forming First Aerospace Media. Since mid-2009 Ian has also been managing editor of Regional International, the journal of the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).
Ian hasis working towards a European commercial pilot licence, having held an FAA private pilot license in 1991, and instructor rating. He also has a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Bath, England, and a graduate diploma in law from Kingston University, and is a graduate of the legal practice course (College of Law, Guildford).

Editor

Ian Sheppard

As Europe begins the phased introduction of new datalink standards for aircraft and ATC (above FL285), Arinc Direct continues to play a leading role in future datalink standards (effectively the next-generation Acars).


So-called controller pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) requires aircraft to be able to communicate with ATC using VHF datalink (VDL) Mode 2, akin to text messaging of requests and clearances (although voice communications will still be used as a back-up).


Arinc already has contracts with three ANSPs in western Europe (the UK’s NATS, Germany’s DFS and Switzerland’s Skyguide), all of which have to implement the links this year. Yanko Videv, datalink program manager for Arinc EMEA Aviation Solutions, told AIN that demand for its services is very high and working with various national air navigation service providers (ANSPs) is challenging: all are different, they do not think like airlines and they have responsibility for vast tracts of airspace and a large number of aircraft. The company aims to engage with ANSPs “in the early stages of their requirement definition” to facilitate a smoother transition to CPDLC, Videv said.


The U.S. has Fans (future air navigation system) standards and has decided not to adopt the same standard as Europe for now, preferring instead to harmonize later when the following standard comes along, he told AIN. The long-term stated aim of ICAO is to see a common worldwide datalink standard, based around the ICAO Aeronautical Telecommunications Network (ATN) standards.


Arinc is also offering to advise airlines on equipping their aircraft for <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/nbaa-convention-news/2012-10-29/mandates-loom-fans-data-link-communications">CPDLC</a>. Some aircraft need to be modified or retrofitted with new avionics by February 2015, and there are implications for selection of suitable equipment, installation, certification and crew training, said Videv. Meanwhile, for U.S. aircraft Fans equipment will be acceptable in airspace requiring VDL Mode 2 equipage, under an exemption.


The Annapolis, Md.-based company supports more than 10,000 aircraft worldwide and has now deployed more than 350 VDL Mode 2 ground stations around the world. It also has integration and test stations based with companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Rockwell Collins and Honeywell. In Europe, over the past 10 years airlines such as easyJet, Etihad and FedEx have helped to pioneer datalink communications by taking part in trials under the Link2000+ program, which led to the eventual mandate under European law.

Arinc Teams with ANSPs on Controller Pilot Datalink

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