19-Nov-2015
Numerous Outreach Efforts Raise Awareness about AeroMACS Globally
CLACKAMAS, OR – November 19, 2015 – This year, the WiMAX Forum has widely advocated the capabilities of the wireless broadband technology for the airport surface called Aeronautical Mobile Airport Communication System (AeroMACS). The results of these efforts demonstrate the immense potential and benefits in using AeroMACS to a variety of audiences that include aircraft maintenance, airlines, airport, ATC/ATM, government representatives, and more. It has been an active year of hosting AeroMACS seminars, presenting at aviation-focused events, hosting the AeroMACS Multi-vendor Interoperability Demonstration Event (MIDE), publishing white papers, and preparing a number of studies to accomplish this.
In 2015, the WiMAX Forum hosted four AeroMACS seminars. The latest seminar was AeroMACS 2015 – National Harbor collocated with the ATCA 60th Annual Conference and Exhibition on November 3 in the DC area. AeroMACS 2015 – National Harbor was a great success with discussions on the future outlook of airport surface communications, highlighting opportunities and strategies involved in deploying cost-efficient AeroMACS networks that are sustainable and easily scalable. The event illustrated the major role of AeroMACS and the collaboration among key players in aviation and wireless industries—airlines; airport authorities; various government representatives; WiMAX manufacturers; and others—in support of the broadband technology as an industry standard. Other AeroMACS seminars that took place earlier this year are WiMAX Aviation 2015 – Madrid collocated with World ATM Congress, an AeroMACS Workshop hosted in Brazil, an AeroMACS Track at the Wireless China Summit in recognition of China’s initiative and trial deployments of AeroMACS technology on the airport surface, and a seminar at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Headquarters.
The WiMAX Forum leadership participated in several aviation events this year. Declan Byrne, WiMAX Forum President, and Richard Hawkins, WiMAX Forum COO, presented at aviation-focused events throughout the year to educate and broaden the audience in regards to AeroMACS. They have emphasized that spectrum is available for use today and that AeroMACS supports hundreds of applications and benefits all stakeholders in the vast aviation industry. AeroMACS represents one of the core technologies outlined in the Future Communication Infrastructure framework, which combines the vision of the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) in the US and the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) in Europe. AeroMACS is also part of the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Global Air Navigation Plan (GANP), which outlines recommendations to deploy this communications system at large- and medium-sized hub airports. The topics discussed in 2015 are the following:
In the second half of 2015, five WiMAX Forum member companies—Gemtek, Hitachi, Selex, Siemens, and Telrad—all rigorously tested their AeroMACS equipment for interoperability at Powertech Labs, the WiMAX Forum AeroMACS Designated Certification Laboratory in North America. The Multi-vendor Interoperability Demonstration Event showcased the capabilities of AeroMACS equipment and set the full stage for AeroMACS Certification, underscoring the availability of equipment today onward.
Two AeroMACS white papers were published this year. Senza Fili Consulting issued a white paper entitled, “AeroMACS: A Common Platform for Air Traffic Management Applications.” The research identifies the latest AeroMACS applications and benefits to key stakeholders, delivering enhanced performance, cost efficiency, and economies of scale. Read the full Senza Fili Consulting white paper here. The WiMAX Forum published a technical white paper called “AeroMACS: Delivering Next Generation Communications to the Airport Surface,” illustrating short- and long-term benefits for 3 major stakeholders—aviation authorities, airports, and airline carriers—for improved airport surface communications. It also outlines a typical AeroMACS deployment at an airport. Read the full WiMAX Forum white paper here.
“A special thank you to our member companies and other organizations that have supported us and contributed with experts to the further advancement of the AeroMACS initiative,” said Declan Byrne, President of the WiMAX Forum. “Through their actions, they have demonstrated their belief is strong in the viability of AeroMACS and its crucial role in the aviation industry in serving the key stakeholders: airlines, airports, air traffic agencies, airport authorities, and others.”
For any questions regarding AeroMACS, WiGRID, WiMAX technology, or the WiMAX Forum, please contact Alessandra Rocha at Alessandra.Rocha@WiMAXForum.org.
About the WiMAX Forum The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization that certifies and promotes the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based upon IEEE Standard 802.16. The WiMAX Forum’s primary goal is to accelerate the adoption, deployment and expansion of WiMAX technologies across the globe while facilitating roaming agreements, sharing best practices within our membership and certifying products. WiMAX Forum Certified products are interoperable and support broadband fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile services. The WiMAX Forum works closely with service providers and regulators to ensure that WiMAX Forum Certified systems meet customer and government requirements. For more information, visit www.wimaxforum.org.
