Third International Conference on the Global Implementation of Aeronautical Datalink

Over the last two years the ATN'99 and ATN2000 conferences have become the leading industry event focusing on the deployment of 1st Generation Datalink technologies (FANS 1/A) and 2nd generation ICAO ATN based technologies. The conferences have brought together leading industry members as presenters and conference delegates to debate and discuss the issues facing the industry as we deploy Datalink technologies and the resulting paradigm shift in Air Traffic Control and Airspace Management.

The associated exhibition has provided a well focused opportunity for both exhibitors and delegates.

The ATN2001 Conference took place 18-19th September 2001 at the IEE London, England, with a pre-conference tutorial on Monday 17th September 2001.

This year, ATN2001 took place only seven days after the hijacking of American Airlines and United Airlines passenger aircraft, which were subsequently flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, resulting in the destruction of the World Trade Center, damage to the Pentagon and approximately 6000 fatalities.

For our part, we had to make a difficult decision: whether to continue with this conference or to cancel it. Postponement was not an option. A conference of this nature is a one off event. The soundings we took and the discussions we had internally led to only one conclusion: the conference must go ahead. Terrorism is a negative force of destruction. Some things it destroys directly but it destroys much more if you let it. We owed it to those who died to minimise further destruction.

After we publicised our decision to go ahead, we received messages of support from all around the world. It was clearly the correct decision. We were also touched by the effort so many of the principals have made to get here - there were many travellers' tales to hear in the breaktimes - and, as a result, our programme was all but intact. 171 delegates attended the conference. Less than expected but an excellent attendance given the circumstances.

The Conference began with one minute's silence in memory of those who died and books of condolence were signed by delegates. The conference then focused on its subject matter and a realisation that the events of the previous week had made this work even more important.

ATN2001 was sponsored by Airtel-ATN, Rockwell Collins and Aeronautical Communications International. It was organised in association with IATA and CANSO. Janes Airport Review was the official conference publication. There was also a Reception at the end of the first day of the conference, sponsored by ARINC.

• Day 1 of the conference focused on the PETAL II Trial and its conclusion with the flight trials of the Rockwell Collins equipped American Airlines B767 flights using certified ATN equipment. These flights represent the end of the development phase for ATN based CNS/ATM applications and the beginning of the deployment and use of the ATN.

  Presentations were made by the leading industry players in the PETAL II Trial and Eurocontrol, focusing on the both the Operational and Systems aspects of the trial. The keynote speech was delivered by Kent Fisher (Boeing) and the day was chaired by Rob Mead, until July 2001 Eurocontrol's PETAL II Project Manager.

• Day 2 of the conference was chaired by Kevin Jones (Airtel-ATN) and started by looking at the next steps after PETAL in both Europe and North America. The conference programme continued by looking at the key issue of VHF Communications technologies, including VDL Modes 2, 3 and 4. A report was also given by IATA on the current state of analogue voice communications including 8.33kHz channel separation and frequency availability. This section concluded with a panel discussion on the subject of "which VHF Communications Technologies should an airline equip with". The day concluded with presentations on Datalink in South America and military usage.