We’ve come a long way from the days when air traffic controllers moved little wooden markers they nicknamed “shrimp boats” around on an airspace map to track reported aircraft positions and ensure proper separation on flights over water.
Fast forward and today controllers have FANS – the Future Air Navigation System. FANS uses GPS signals and satellite communications technology to pinpoint the exact location of every aircraft equipped with the right FANS avionics and software to provide aircraft controller pilot data link communications (CPDLC) ccapability between ATC and the cockpit.
The “Future” part of the FANS acronym is becoming something of a misnomer because by Jan. 1, 2020, aircraft will need to be FANS-equipped to fly certain routes in the North Atlantic airspace.
No FANS? No fly. At least not along a half dozen or so tracks on the North Atlantic Organized Track System (NAT-OTS), whose exact positions depend upon prevailing winds and have been known to change daily.
If you’ve already equipped your aircraft for the FANS 1/A 2020 mandate you’re in good shape. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?
Now is the time to make arrangements, by contacting your Honeywell sales representative or certified service center to make arrangement to move your aircraft into the 21st century. You can access our handy reference guide to check requirements for your aircraft type. But do it soon before slots fill up, parts get scarce and prices rise.
Honeywell can even help you test your FANS readiness anytime, with our FANS Test Station, which can confirm that your CPDLC is working correctly and that it’s sending messages within the required timespan. Talk to your dealer to learn more about this free test service for Honeywell GoDirect customers.
It’s late in the game, but there’s no need to panic. At least not yet. We’re here to help … we’re your best FANS solution.
Learn more about GoDirect™ Flight Planning at aerospace.honeywell.com.