RuAviation

Amid sanctions restrictions, the Russian aviation industry has faced the need to find domestic solutions to replace foreign services. One of the key problems was the loss of access to the ACARS addressable and reportable airborne-to-ground communication system, which provides an operational exchange of information between aircraft and ground services.

ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) is a digital communication system used in aviation to transmit short, relatively simple messages between aircraft and ground stations via direct radio or satellite systems. The use of ACARS reduces false assembly/disassembly of units and reduces aircraft downtime through accelerated maintenance procedures.

Until March 2022, ACARS service for Russian and foreign airlines was provided by foreign providers using a network of radio stations located in Russia and processing air messages in foreign processing centres. With the termination of access to this system, the efficiency of fleet utilisation decreased and the economic losses of airlines increased.

To solve the problem, Azimut JSC of Rostec State Corporation developed the necessary equipment, and Infocom-Avia took on the role of an operator of information services in the field of aviation activities. Together they restored the ACARS service for domestic air carriers by creating a network of ground stations on the main north-south and west-east flight directions and forming a data processing centre in Russia, Rostec said.

A domestic ACARS communication system has been created and is being implemented in Russia

An important milestone was the conclusion of an agreement on commercial operation of the domestic ACARS service with Russia’s largest private carrier, S7 Airlines. After two years of testing and optimisation of the system, Infocom-Avia officially moved to its commercial operation.

‘Ensuring flight safety is a top priority for S7 Airlines. Although dispatch communication remains a reliable communication channel, we believe it is important to expand the ways of data exchange. ACARS simplifies the work of pilots, allowing them to promptly receive the necessary information,’ Igor Bocharov, Deputy General Director for Flight Safety at S7 emphasised.

Infocom-Avia plans to expand the ACARS service area to the entire territory of the country and connect all Russian airlines. The company is also considering several applications from foreign airlines interested in connecting to the ACARS service in Russia.

The restoration of the ACARS service not only solved the problem of import substitution, but also opened up the possibility of introducing new types of air navigation services previously unavailable in Russia. These include digital automatic transmission of information in the aerodrome area (D-ATIS), digital dispatch departure clearance (DCL) and dispatcher-pilot communication (SPDLC).

With the introduction of the domestic aviation communication system, it can be stated that Swiss SITA, which provided access to this service until March 2022, has permanently lost the Russian market.