Aeroflot connected to Russian ACARS communication system - Rostec

MOSCOW. May 13 (Interfax) - Russian flag carrier Aeroflot and Infocom-Avia, a division of state corporation Rostec's Azimut Management Company, have signed a contract for the commercial operation of a Russian air-ground digital communication system for aircraft, Rostec reported.

The Russian Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System (ACARS) was developed to replace foreign equivalents that have become unavailable to Russian airlines due to sanctions. The departure of foreign providers significantly reduced the operating efficiency of the aircraft fleet, increasing the economic losses of Russian airlines, Rostec said.

Azimut developed the necessary equipment as part of Russia's import substitution drive. Infocom-Avia acted as the information services operator. A network of ground stations was built along the main north-south and west-east routes and a data processing center was established within Russia.

Domestic airlines, including Aeroflot, were involved in testing the ACARS services from the very beginning.

"The number of airlines connected to the domestic ACARS service is steadily growing. Last year about two thirds of Russia's aircraft fleet exchanged information through this system. Using ACARS significantly increases an airline's fleet operating efficiency and flight safety. There are plans to expand the service coverage to the whole country and connect all Russian airlines," Infocom-Avia's CEO Viktor Solomentsev was reported as saying by Rostec's press service.

The use of the ACARS service presumes the future rollout of new types of air navigation services not previously available in Russia: digital automatic terminal information service (D-ATIS), departure clearance service (DCL) and controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC).