Technical Verification and Validation of ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 for En-route Airspace and Major Terminal Areas

Abstract: This report is a technical verification and validation of Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) over Very High Frequency Data Link Mode 4 (VDL Mode 4) for the use as surveillance in terminal areas and en-route airspace in non-radar areas. The main objective is to verify that ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 fulfils the technical requirements for an implementation at Kiruna airport, Sweden. Comparison has been made to the current requirements for Secondary Surveillance Radar (SSR). The work in this report has been conducted in three phases: preliminary study, tests and verification and validation. During the preliminary study documents primarily from EUROCONTROL and ICAO were used to find out which requirements that were applicable. The next part consisted of both practical tests and theoretical verification of the VDL Mode 4 performance. Finally the results from the tests were validated and put together in this report. Main conclusion from this report is that ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 fulfils the corresponding SSR requirements. Therefore ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 should be able to serve as primary mean for surveillance in non-radar areas. The results from this report will constitute a part of the technical subset of future safety case for ADS-B in non-radar areas. The complete safety case will be used to authorize ADS-B/VDL Mode 4 in non-radar airspace, both in Sweden and internationally.