Implementing Data Link Across the Pacific

Material for this paper was developed in conjunction with an ADS and Two-Way ATC Data Communications Engineering Trials program involving primarily the FAA Technical Center, ARINC, and United Airlines under the terms of a Memorandum of Agreement signed in September 1989 by the Administrator of the FAA and the Chairman and CEO of United Airlines, Stephen A. Wolf. It was agreed that the focus of effort would be directed to long-range operations over the Pacific Ocean utilizing the SATCOM system developed by Collins Radio, installed and certified by the Boeing Company on a 747-400 aircraft, and an INMARSAT satellite with digital data communications service provided by the COMSAT Corporation.