A Networking Testbed for IPv6-Based Future Air Traffic Management (ATM) Network

This paper presents a networking testbed, which is developed within the EC FP7 project SANDRA to test and validate IPv6-based protocols for future Air Traffic Management (ATM) network. The development was originally initiated within the EC FP6 project NEWSKY which aimed at developing a concept for a global, heterogeneous communication network for aeronautical communications, based on IPv6 protocol stack. The SANDRA project aims at designing and implementing an integrated aeronautical communication system and validating it through a testbed and, further, in-flight trials on an Airbus A320. Central design paradigm is the improvement of efficiency and cost-effectiveness by ensuring a high degree of flexibility, scalability, modularity and re-configurability. Whereas the NEWSKY testbed is considered to be a proof-of-concept, the SANDRA testbed will represent a prototype aircraft communication system, integrating prototypes developed and implemented in SANDRA, comprising AeroMACS, Integrated Modular Radio (IMR), Integrated Router (IR), and a novel Ku-band antenna.