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From PETAL to LINK2000+ |
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The Maastricht UAC Air/Ground Data Link Implementation Project |
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Since 1995 EUROCONTROL has been assessing the feasibility of introducing air/ground data link in congested continental airspace under the PETAL (Preliminary EUROCONTROL Test of Air/Ground Datalink) project. The success of the PETAL project, conducted until the end of 2001 at the Maastricht UAC, has been widely acknowledged throughout the aviation community on both sides of the Atlantic. The Centre has now committed to continue to operate and enhance further the air/ground data link functionality in its day-to-day operational environment.
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The "PETAL to LINK2000+" Project (P2L) has been created with a view to ensure that the wealth of experience gained at Maastricht UAC in operating air/ground data link is maintained and further developed. It will provide a smooth transition from the PETAL trials to the introduction of operational data link in the context of the LINK2000+ Programme, which is aimed at implementing seamless data link services in the core area of Europe within the timeframe 2002-2007.
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The introduction of this technology is highly dependent on sufficient aircraft equipage rates to achieve the expected benefits in terms of safety and capacity enhancement. Airlines have expressed their full support for the introduction of data link operations in Europe on several occasions: data link services are regarded as an essential tool in solving the capacity problems of the coming decade and is an integral part of Europe's air traffic management strategy.
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