Rockwell Collins Nexcom Radio Package Gains Milestone TSO

TSO approval for a new all-digital communications package marks the completion of a three-year program by Rockwell Collins to develop radios to support the FAA’s digital VHF communications system, called Nexcom (next-generation communications).

During a recent certification test flight from Atlanta, the pilots of a Delta Air Lines Boeing 737-800 used the new Collins VHF-2100 digital voice communications system to exchange messages with controllers and FAA engineers located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, N.J. Data exchanges were performed without any reported glitches and voice quality, according to Rockwell Collins, was “far superior” to that provided by traditional radio.

“The successful completion of this phase of development provides a solid foundation for the FAA to begin implementation of Nexcom,” said Nancy Guzak, Nexcom program manager at Rockwell Collins. “Our next objective will be to certify follow-on equipment we are developing for use in business jets, planned to occur before the end of 2006.”