Aeronautical Message Handling System

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ATS Message Handling System (AMHS) also known as Aeronautical Message Handling System is a standard for aeronautical ground-ground communications (e.g. for the transmission of NOTAM, Flight Plans or Meteorological Data) based on X.400 profiles. It has been defined by the ICAO. ICAO Doc 9880 Part II[1] defines two fundamental levels of service within the ATSMHS;

Basic ATSMHS and the Extended ATSMHS.

Additionally, ICAO Doc 9880 (Part II, section 3.4) outlines different subsets of the Extended ATSMHS. The Basic ATSMHS performs an operational role similar to the Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network with a few enhancements. The Extended ATSMHS provided enhanced features but includes the Basic level of service capability; in this way it is ensured that users with Extended Service capabilities can interoperate, at a basic level, with users having Basic Service capabilities and vice-versa. The ATSMHS is provided by a set of end systems, which collectively comprise the ATS Message Handling System. The systems co-operate to provide users (human or automated) with a data communication service. The AMHS network is composed of interconnected ATS Message Servers that perform message switching at the application layer ( Layer 7 in the OSI model ). Direct users connect to ATS Message Servers by means of ATS Message User Agents. An ATS Message User Agent supporting the Extended level of service will use the Basic level of service to allow communication with users who only support the Basic ATSMHS.
Contents
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1 Interoperability 2 Implementations 3 AMHS usage around the world 4 See also 5 References 6 External links

[edit]Interoperability
In order to ensure unobstructed communication between the ANSPs, the European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG) of ICAO has defined 59 test cases in its EUR AMHS Manual V5.0, 17/06/2010 (Appendix D, AMHS Conformance Tests), ASIA/PAC AMHS Manual (Annex B, AMHS

Conformance and Compatibility Test, V2.0, 22/09/08) which have to be performed prior to establishment of bilateral links between the ANSPs. Those tests are conducted using a test engine (AMHS Conformance Test Tool) and verify the conformance to the AMHS standard, which is defined in ICAO Doc 9880-AN/466: Manual on Detailed Technical Specifications for the Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) using ISO/OSI Standards and Protocols, Part II, First Edition 2010. In the context of Single European Sky (SES) initiative and the European regulation EC552/2004[2] EUROCONTROL developed a specification[3] to complement the regulation. The use of the specifications facilitates the demonstration of conformity to the essential requirements and regulatory provisions.

[edit]Implementations
In order to facilitate the transition from legacy protocols to this new standard EUROCONTROL launched a project called ECG (European or EATM Communications Gateway) to develop a gateway between AFTN and AMHS. The ECG was developed by the French manufacturer Thales and the German manufacturer COMSOFT. Meanwhile, nearly all AMHS systems in Europe are derived from the ECG (see table below). Similar solutions are offered by Intelcan (Canada), TELEFONICA (Spain), Ubitech (Canada), Radiocom (USA) working together with Skysoft Servicios S.A. (Argentina), Avitech AG (Germany) and FREQUENTIS (Austria). The first AMHS system went into operational use in 1996 with 36 centers for the German Military, and the first AMHS connection in Europe is in operational use since February 2005 between the ANSPs of Germany and Spain. The first operational AMHS connection in the Middle East was established in 2009 between the United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi) and Oman. In the meantime Abu Dhabi has evolved as a nucleus for the introduction of AMHS in the Middle East, resulting in a coherent AMHS network of operational connection between the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar. In 2012 the South American countries Peru and Colombia joined the circle of AMHS users while Asia has operated AMHS links between Hong Kong and Macao since 2009 and between Singapore and India since 2011. Interregional AMHS connections for improved traffic between ICAO regions could be established between the UK and the US in 2011 and the UK and Singapore in the beginning of 2012. By end 2011, ANSPs worldwide have replaced 14 operational international AFTN connections by an AMHS link. The up-to-date worldwide implementation status of AMHS is recorded in the ICAO COM Charts which are available from the AMC (ATS Messaging Management Centre) operated by EUROCONTROL.

[edit]AMHS

usage around the world

Country / Authority

Online since

AFTN / AMHS Gateway

ATS Message ATS Service User Agent Level

System Supplier

Abu Dhabi (civil aviation authority)

2009

Yes

Yes 50

Extended

COMSOFT

Abu Dhabi (new airport)

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Afghanistan (OTAN)

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Albania

2011

Yes

Yes

Basic

FREQUENTIS

Algeria

2004

Yes

Yes

Basic

THALES

Argentina

2005

Yes

Yes 250

Extended

RADIOCOM, INC.

Argentina (Military)

2009

Yes

Yes 60

Extended

RADIOCOM, INC.

Australia

2007

Yes

Yes 60

Extended

COMSOFT

Austria

2006

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Bahrain

2009

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Belgium

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Belize

before 2008

Yes

Yes

Basic

COCESNA

Bolivia

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Bosnia-Herzegovina

2010

Yes

Yes 11

Extended

COMSOFT

Brazil

2009

Yes

Yes

Basic

Atech

Bulgaria

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Bulgaria (military)

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Canada

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

Avitech

Cape Verde

2005

Yes

No

Basic

FREQUENTIS

China/Hong Kong

2009

Yes

Yes 13

Extended

COMSOFT

China/Macao

2008

Yes

Yes 14

Basic

COMSOFT

Chile

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Colombia

2009

Yes

Yes 69

Extended

COMSOFT

Costa Rica

before 2008

Yes

Yes

Basic

COCESNA

Croatia

2004

Yes

Yes

Basic

THALES

Cyprus

2003

Yes

Yes

Basic

THALES

Denmark

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

FREQUENTIS

Dominican Republic

2009

Yes

Yes

???

Ubitech

Dubai

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

Avitech

Ecuador (Quito & Guayaquil)

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Ecuador (Guayaquil Backup system)

2007

Yes

Yes

Extended

RADIOCOM, INC.

El Salvador

before 2008

Yes

Yes

Basic

COCESNA

Egypt

2008

Yes

Yes 200

Extended

COMSOFT

Ethiopia

2010

Yes

Yes 43

Extended

RADIOCOM, INC.

Ethiopia (AMHS Extended 2010 Service Training Center)

Yes

Yes 6

Extended

RADIOCOM, INC.

Eurocontrol CFMU

2005

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Eurocontrol MUAC

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Fiji

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Finland

2010

Yes

Yes

Basic

FREQUENTIS

France

2010

Yes

Yes 200

Extended

COMSOFT

Germany (civil)

2005

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Germany (military)

1996

Yes

No

Extended

Avitech

Ghana

2012

Yes

Yes 18

Extended

COMSOFT

Greece

2002

Yes

Yes

Basic

THALES

Guatemala

before 2008

Yes

Yes

Basic

COCESNA

Guinea

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

Intelcan

Guyana

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

Intelcan

Honduras

before 2008

Yes

Yes

Basic

COCESNA

Hungary

2009

Yes

Yes

Extended

Avitech

Iceland

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

Tern Systems

India (civil)

2012

Yes

Yes 25

Extended

COMSOFT

India (military)

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Iraq

2011

Ubitech

Ireland

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

FREQUENTIS

Jordan

2008

Yes

Yes

Extended

Avitech

Kenya

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Kuwait

2012

Yes

Yes 100

Extended

COMSOFT

Laos

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Latvia

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

FREQUENTIS

Lebanon

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Liberia

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

Intelcan

Lithuania

2010

Yes

Yes 15

Extended

COMSOFT

Macedonia

2006

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Malaysia

2007

Yes

No

Extended

Egis Avia

Mexico

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Montenegro

2010

Yes

Yes 29

Extended

COMSOFT

Morocco

2007

Yes

Yes 4

Extended

COMSOFT

Myanmar

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Nepal

2012

Yes

Yes 35

Extended

COMSOFT

Netherlands

2009

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

New Zealand

2012

Yes

Yes 100

Extended

COMSOFT

Nicaragua

before 2008

Yes

Yes

Basic

COCESNA

Oman

2008

Yes

Yes 4

Extended

COMSOFT

Pakistan

2009

Yes

Yes 40

Extended

COMSOFT

Panama

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Paraguay

2008

Yes

50

Extended

RADIOCOM, INC.

Peru

2008

Yes

Yes 80

Extended

COMSOFT

Philippines

2006

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Poland

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

Avitech

Portugal

2006

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Qatar

2010

Yes

Yes 4

Extended

COMSOFT

Romania

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Saudi Arabia

2010

Yes

Yes 8

Extended

COMSOFT

Serbia

2010

Yes

Yes 29

Extended

COMSOFT

Sierra Leonne

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

Intelcan

Singapore

2007

Yes

Yes 20

Extended

COMSOFT

Slovakia

2008

Yes

Yes 50

Extended

COMSOFT

Slovenia

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

South Africa

2009

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Spain

Yes

Telefnica

Sudan

2004

Yes

Yes

Basic

THALES

Suriname

2011

Yes

Yes

Extended

Intelcan

Switzerland

2010

Yes

Yes 200

Extended

COMSOFT

Taiwan

2005

Yes

Yes

Extended

THALES

Thailand

2009

Yes

Yes

Extended

Ubitech

Trinidad & Tobago

2012

Yes

Yes

Extended

COMSOFT

Tunisia

2008

Yes

Yes

Extended

Avitech

Turkey

2009

Yes

Yes

Extended

Avitech

United Kingdom

2006

Yes

Yes 1000

Extended

COMSOFT

United States

Yes

No

Basic

FAA

Venezuela

2010

Yes

Yes

Extended

RADIOCOM, INC.

Zimbabwe

2010

Yes

Yes 18

Extended

COMSOFT