Originally published in 2002
By Bill Gunn
Aviation Division
There is a new tool available to the flying community: Flight Information Services Data Link or FISDL. FISDL encompasses several data link systems providing information to and from the cockpit.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has contracted to provide FAA-funded FISDL. This is a two-vendor contract similar to the Direct User Access Terminal (DUATS) contract. The two vendors, Honeywell Bendix King (www.bendixking.com) and ARNAV (www.amav.com) provide services via Very High Frequency (VHF) ground transmitters on frequencies in the 136.425 to 136.500 range. Currently, text information is provided at no cost and graphic information, such as the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD), is provided for a fee. The pilot, however, has to purchase on-board equipment to receive and process the signal. To date, the ground transmission sites are in Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Abilene, Dallas / Fort Worth, Lubbock and Amarillo. Sites are installed, but not yet operating in Fort Stockton and El Paso. Additional sites are planned to give complete coverage for the state. There are other vendors, such as Echo Flight (www.echoflight.com) and Control Vision (www.controlvision.com) that provide FISDL via satellite transmission. These services are all direct contract to the customer and are fee-based.
The information potentially available is impressive. Text and graphics for weather, terrain, special-use airspace, instrument approach overlays and traffic conflict resolution are available now. This system has been available since the late 1990’s, but has not become widespread due to cost or area coverage limitations. Competition and the popularity of cockpit multifunction displays associated with Global Positioning System (GPS) should lower costs and make cockpit radar (and other useful services) available to any aircraft. Keep watching.