The Russian Rostec Corporation’s press office announced that the digital service D-ATIS (Digital Automatic Terminal Information Service) has been tested and is ready for nationwide implementation, having been developed by Russian companies to transmit meteorological and aeronautical information to pilots.
D-ATIS is an aviation system that furnishes pilots with up-to-date, critical information regarding an airport, such as runway status, weather conditions, and other critical operational details. D-ATIS, in contrast to the previous voice-based ATIS, transmits this information digitally via data link communications. This allows pilots to receive current text messages with precision and speed, even when they are located outside the typical range of traditional ATIS broadcasts. This digital format improves operational efficiency and situational awareness by guaranteeing that personnel have access to accurate and timely information for safe landings and departures.
The implementation of D-ATIS provides pilots with new opportunities, enabling them to receive up-to-date reports from virtually any location on the planet and at any distance from the destination aerodrome. The information is updated within a few seconds of being generated by air traffic services, enabling personnel to prepare in advance for the approach and landing at the destination airport. Flight safety and convenience are considerably improved by the promptness and accuracy of data transmission, which reduces the likelihood of errors and misunderstandings during the planning of the landing and execution of maneuvers.
The information exchange between aircraft and ground services in Russia was conducted using foreign solutions supplied by the Swiss company SITA and the American company ARINC until March 2022. Both enterprises served as the primary suppliers of digital aeronautical messages to both Russian and foreign airlines. The processing of aviation communications was conducted in foreign processing centers, although their infrastructure included a network of radio stations on Russian territory. Nevertheless, in 2020, Russian airlines initiated the D-ATIS service testing at numerous main airports in the country, including Pulkovo, Strigino, Vnukovo, and Kurumoch, with the objective of enhancing the independence of domestic aviation from Western technologies. Aeroflot gave special consideration to the new service, proposing its implementation in fourteen major Russian airports.
At present, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) has approved a roadmap for a planned transition to completely utilize domestic digital technologies for data exchange between aircraft and ground. The digitalization of information interchange is a critical factor in the development of the Russian aviation sector, as it enhances flight safety, reduces the workload of air traffic controllers, and ensures independence from foreign services and solutions. These modifications provide Russia with the opportunity to establish its infrastructure and technologies, which is crucial from both an economic and national security standpoint.
Numerous prominent Russian organizations collaborated to make the D-ATIS initiative feasible. Both the State Corporation for Air Traffic Management (Goskorporatsiya po OrVD) and Infocom-Avia, the network operator and integrator of the “aircraft-to-ground” data transmission, were involved. Furthermore, the equipment’s hardware and software components were developed in collaboration with prominent Russian aviation equipment manufacturers, including Almaz, Firma NITA, and the Production Company Azimut, which is a subsidiary of Rostec. The service was effectively tested, positive results were obtained, and a phased plan for the nationwide implementation of D-ATIS was developed through the collaborative efforts of these organizations.
SITA reported a $1.6 billion increase in global revenue in 2024; however, these figures cover a wide range of global markets beyond Russia. A significant but unidentified portion of this sum would be the commercial losses in Russia as a result of the sanctions. Since digital communication services were essential and had facilities in Russia but were managed from other countries before 2022, losing this large market due to sanctions and political changes probably caused these companies to lose a lot of money, possibly ranging from several million to tens of millions of dollars each year. However, exact public figures specific to Russia are not available.
Consequently, the D-ATIS initiative is a strategically significant direction in the advancement of the domestic aviation industry. In addition to bolstering Russia’s technological sovereignty, it guarantees the rapid and high-quality transmission of critical information. The introduction of this service is crucial for the establishment of a modern, efficient, and secure data exchange system between aircraft and ground services. This system is essential for the improvement of passenger service quality, the assurance of flight safety, and the competitiveness of Russian airlines on the international stage.
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