business backgrounder | industry
specific radio frequencies. All commercial flights flying in a certain
region have to communicate on the same frequency. In order for
a pilot to talk to an air traffic controller, he has to wait for a break
in communications. With ever-increasing air traffic volumes, this
annoyance has become a serious problem.
By employing data communications, air traffic controllers can
communicate with aircraft without fear of radio congestion,
providing flight information with greater speed and safety.
No area in the world has a greater need to realize the full
potential of this technology than Europe. By 2015, all aircraft that
operate at over 28,500 feet in Europe will be required to have a
direct data link device — such as the Spectralux’s Dlink+ — to
address the limits of voice communications in crowded European airspace. This involves a retrofit of most existing European
aircraft, for which the Spectralux Dlink+ is ideally suited.
“This is really a case of the right technology at the right
time to solve a problem,” said Hertzog. Airlines such as Icelandair
have retrofitted the Dlink+ onto their entire fleet to meet the
upcoming mandate.
“The success we’ve had in transitioning to more complex products is a real testament to our employees and the quality of our
operations. We are really well positioned for the future.”
AWB Manufacturing Awards video: vimeo.com/30418766
Eurocontrol: bit.ly/Eurocontrol
Spectralux: www.spectralux.com
winter 2012 45