A319/ A320/ A321

TECHNICAL TRAINING MANUAL

ATA 46

INFORMATION SYSTEM

Under no circumstances should this document be used as a reference

This document must be used for training purposes only.

Future updates will not be issued to the holder of this manual.

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INFORMATION SYSTEM – TABLE OF CONTENT

General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Pre FANS, FANS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Architecture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Panel Location/ Control & Indicating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Component Locations . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Maintenance/ Test Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

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AIR TRAFFIC INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM PRESENTATION

GENERAL

The Air Traffic Information Management System (ATIMS) complies with

the future developments of the Communication, Navigation,
Surveillance and Air Traffic Management (ATM) also known as Future
Air Navigation System (FANS). It covers the evolution of the way the
airspace will be used in the years to come.
It will be used in different operational environments and is designed to
be easily configured to the airlines needs.
ATIMS enables data-link communication: VHF Data Radio (VDR), HF
Data Radio (HFDR) and SATCOM (if installed) and the exchange of
complex data or specific reports between the aircraft and the ground
centers:
- controller pilot data-link communications (HF voice in backup) for air
traffic management,
- automatic reporting (position, intention) for air traffic surveillance, or
specific airline/aircraft communications (operational control) to improve
airline operational costs and flexibility.
Standard AOC functionalities are basically provided but airlines can
customize these functions and the way they are accessed by the crew.
On the ground, the different existing networks dispatch the messages.
These networks are operated by private companies such as ARINC,
SITA and others, which are known as service providers.

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GENERAL
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GENERAL (continued)
PRE-FANS, FANS

There are three stages of FANS development.

- Pre-FANS (Communications (COM) and AOC functions),
- FANS A (pre-FANS + ATC functions) and
- FANS B (FANS A + improved ground network + Traffic Alert
and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)).
Today, the pre-FANS allow the AOC function.
It provides the crew with Aircraft Communication Addressing and
Reporting System (ACARS) equivalent functions and more, as for
instance:
- NOtice To AirMen (NOTAM), weather, winds aloft requests,
- free text message exchanges,
- diversion, delay, refueling, flight reports,
- aircraft data from Centralized Fault Display System (CFDS),
Aircraft Integrated Data System (AIDS), cabin terminal...etc.

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GENERAL - PRE-FANS, FANS

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ARCHITECTURE

The ATIMS pre-FANS configuration mainly has an Air Traffic Service

Unit (ATSU).
The ATSU is used:
- to manage communications (air/ground data-links),
- to manage applications (on board data routing).
The ATSU is configured in pre-FANS to do:
- the management of air/ground communication,
- Airline Operational Control applications.
The communication devices include:
- the SATCOM, if installed,
- the VDR.
The Pre FANS crew interfaces include:
- the ECAM, and,
- the MCDU.
For FANS-A and FANS-B equipped aircraft there are:
- two Data Communication Display Units (DCDUs),
- two attention getter pushbuttons, marked "ATC MSG",
- the MCDU "ATC COM" key operative.
The ATSU manages the communication message exchanges to and
from the peripheral computers (on-board routing function).

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ARCHITECTURE
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PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING

We will now have a look at the control and indicating of the system.

PRE-FANS

The ATSU line key from the MCDU MENU gives access to:
- AOC MENU line key and,
- COMM line key.
MCDU "ATC COM" key is inoperative.
The COMM line key gives access to the COMM MENU, which is used
for the management and control of the air/ground router. The AOC line
key gives access to the AOC MENU page, which is used for the
management of AOC functions (equivalent to ACARS functions).
The content of this menu depends on the AOC applications selected
by the airline.
Messages related to the pre-FANS status are displayed on the EWD.

NOTE: The wording ACARS is still retained in the different

messages even if, now, it refers to the ATSU. The "ATC MSG"
pushbutton is inoperative.

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PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING - PRE-FANS

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PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING (continued)

FANS

In FANS configuration the "ATC MENU" prompt is available to get

access to ATC pages. The "ATC COMM" key gives the same access
but as a shortcut.
Two attention getter pushbuttons are operative and indicate ATC
incoming messages.
Two DCDUs give full time accessibility and readability for messages
exchanged with the ATC and both crew, which require only limited
head-down time.
Text messages instead of voice communication reduce the risk of
misunderstanding.

NOTE: The DCDUs are the interfaces for ATC messages only.

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PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING - FANS

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PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING (continued)

MCDU MENU

The COMM MENU is used for communication settings, as selection of

the Service provider and frequency.
The AOC MENU line key gives access to the AOC MENU which is
equivalent to ACARS functions.
The content of this menu depends on the AOC applications selected by
the airline.
The ATC MENU gives access to the least frequent ATC operations,
which are:
- data entry for message preparation,
- access to previously exchanged messages (MSG LOG).

NOTE: The ATC COMM key has the same functions as ATC MENU
but provides quick access to the page whatever the MCDU
menus displayed.

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PANEL LOCATION/CONTROL AND INDICATING - MCDU MENU

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COMPONENT LOCATION

The ATSU is in the 81VU in the avionics compartment.

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COMPONENT LOCATION
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MAINTENANCE/TEST FACILITIES

The ATIMS BITE information and test request are available through
MCDU menus which communicate with the ATSU BITE. The ATIMS
maintenance menu is accessible using the "ACARS MU" prompt from
the COM SYSTEM REPORT/TEST page.

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MAINTENANCE/TEST FACILITIES
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