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Communications

The communication infrastructure of BULATSA is specially designed to provide critical services with high-security requirements. It operates following international standards and the requirements of ICAO and EUROCONTROL, the regulations of the European Commission, as well as applicable national laws and regulations.

Aeronautical Telecommunication Information Network (ATIM)

The Aeronautical Telecommunication Information Network (ATIM) is intended for the continuous transmission of aeronautical information between infrastructure facilities and air traffic service units within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The network is based on Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) and Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) technologies.

OPERATIONAL IP NETWORK

The Operational IP Network provides packet-based communication connectivity for operational purposes. The network uses state-of-the-art equipment supplied by leading global manufacturers. The network nodes are connected through leased communication channels provided by telecommunications operators and through our own microwave network.

  • The National segment of the Operational IP Network provides IP communication connectivity to BULATSA remote facilities within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
  • The National backup segment of the Operational IP Network provides parallel IP connectivity to remote facilities of BULATSA within the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria through a different communication transmission than the one used in the National segment.
  • The International segment of the Operational IP Network provides IP connectivity to neighboring air navigation service providers (ANSPs) of BULATSA.

OPERATIONAL VOICE COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

The communication system for operational voice communication in BULATSA provides one of the most important components of the air traffic management (ATM) system.

Operational ground-air voice communication, as well as ground-ground communication in BULATSA, is carried out through the following communication means and systems:

  • 6 independent Voice Communication Systems (VCS), which represent a set of ground communication means that play a common role in providing voice communication between air traffic controllers and aircraft crews.
  • 17 VHF transceiver centers with over 300 radio stations serving over 30 radio channels.
  • Systems for voice and data recording and playback – the connectivity of these systems is hardware and technologically redundant and relies on the ATIN and Operational IP Network for communication connectivity.

EUROPEAN NETWORKS

The communication infrastructure of the ATSD is integrated into the following European communication networks:

  • AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network) – is based on serial and analog communication.
  • CIDIN (Common ICAO Data Interchange Network) – using the X.25 protocol (ICAO’s Common Data Interchange Network).
  • AMHS (Aeronautical Message Handling System) – using the X.400 protocol, an international Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network. It serves for the exchange of information related to the operation of aircraft, including distress messages, emergency messages, flight safety messages, meteorological messages and data, flight regularity messages, and administrative aeronautical messages.
  • NEWPENS – the centralized pan-European network providing IP service for connecting to European ANSPs providing aeronautical services.
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