An interoperability assessment model for CNS/ATM systems

Next Generation Air Traffic Management (NG-ATM) modernisation programs such as SESAR in Europe and NextGen in the US are introducing novel system designs to meet the requirements for increasing air traffic growth. In the Communication, Navigation, Surveillance /Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) and Avionics (CNS+A) context, innovative concepts such as Four Dimensional Trajectories (4DT), System Wide Information Management (SWIM) based network architectures and higher levels of automation are introduced. With the access of unmanned aircraft in various classes of airspace, interoperability between airborne, ground and supporting systems such as satellite communication and navigation are essential for a successful implementation of the next generation concepts. In the CNS/ATM framework, interoperability is defined as the ability of systems to provide services to and accept services from other systems and to use the services that are exchanged to enable them to operate effectively. In this paper, a comparative analysis on existing interoperability models is presented and a comprehensive interoperability model is recommended for CNS/ATM systems. The recommended models are based on the ontology of Signal in Space (SIS), System and the Human Machine Interface (HMI) levels of interoperability. This assessment study provides a novel framework to define a certification process to assess the interoperability levels between various CNS/ATM systems