Future Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure (FCDI)

Contributing to the digitalisation of European skies, by specifying and developing the future communication technologies to support and manage operational services: this is main objective of the FCDI (Future Connectivity and Digital Infrastructure) project, for a smarter and more sustainable aviation.

By enabling a more extensive use of public networks, FCDI will improve the communication infrastructure’s cost efficiency, allowing communication infrastructure scalability and sustainability with an extended usable spectrum and the use of existing public infrastructures.  In addition, FCDI will enable global communication infrastructure interoperability by allowing the use of alternative communication protocols and by accommodating specific technical, commercial, and regulatory needs.

 Performance requirements for communications systems are more and more complex, demanding for air and ground solutions considered as a common infrastructure, with a unified concept of operations, where possible. The research activities will drive the full implementation of concepts such as infrastructure as a service, to facilitate the complete decoupling of service provision, such as infrastructure and information services, from the physical location of the infrastructure, as outlined in the target architecture specified in the European ATM Master Plan.

Coordinated by Leonardo, the project sees the participation of 20 partners for a duration of 36 months.

Main activities

Collaborative Cyber Security Framework for CNS: to elevate trust and safety

The main objective is to provide effective and long-term defence against cyber security attacks to future hyper-connected and automated aeronautical CNS environment. The increase in connectivity and automation may facilitate propagation of cyber security threats across the global architecture, requiring a more collaborative approach to the design of future security solutions.

Hyper Connected ATM precursor: to pave the way for the best use of safety and secured public communication links

The main ambition of this solution is to show the feasibility to use public air-ground links and networks as a complement to legacy safety links, to support safety and regularity of flights related air-ground communications. The hyperconnected ATM concept will leverage commercial radio infrastructure to provide connectivity to passengers during flights, to improve overall communications performance.

FCI Services and IPS Enhancements: to enhance the FCI Mobility & Multilink for a safer and more interoperable aviation

The Future Communication Infrastructure (FCI) is a critical enabler for long term viability of many operational concepts developed in SESAR. Baseline is the FCI IPS Mobility & Multilink. Research topics will address multilink policy management, enhanced performances for the most critical ATM Services of the future and other IPS enhancements.

FCI Terrestrial Data Links – LDACS: to provide secure, high throughput communication capability and voice, with embedded navigation capability

LDACS, standardized by ICAO, will enable efficient, secure, and high-bandwidth communication, and will be designed to be compatible with legacy technologies in L-Band, both civil and military. The main objectives of this solution are to increase the maturity level of the LDACS Airborne Enabler, through the development of LDACS avionic prototype.

PARTICIPANTS: Leonardo, Airbus, Airtel Atn, Altys Technologies, Collins Aerospace Ireland, Rockwell Collins France, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Enaire, Enav, Eurocontrol, Frequentis, Honeywell International, Rohde & Schwarz, Thales Avs France, Airbus Operations, Indra Sistemas Sa, Società Italiana Costruzioni Elettroniche, Advanced Laboratory On Embedded Systems ALES, Sita It Services France, Sita Ewas Application Services, Thales UK.

The project has received funding from SESAR 3 Joint Undertaking under grant agreement no. 10114729, under European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme.