DESCRIPTION
AFIS is an Airborne Flight Information System that provides integrat-
ed flight planning and performance management interfaces to the
GNS-XLS Nav Management System.
NOTE: The displays in this section apply to installations with MOD 11
or later DMU.
These interfaces consist of three major capabilities:
1. Access to ground based Global Data Center computers from a
Personal Computer for the purpose of generating or retrieving per-
formance optimized flight plans and current aviation weather;
2. Digital transfer of AFIS Flight Plan and weather data into the Nav
Management System for display and performance monitoring on
the GNS-XLS Color CDU; and
3. Air/ground computer link interfacing the GNS-XLS Nav
Management System to the ground based Global Data Center
computers for the purpose of providing enroute flight plan, weath-
er, performance updates, requesting pre-departure clearance,
and sending or receiving messages.
AFIS interfaces with ARINC, SITA, AVICOM and Air Canada VHF
networks and the Inmarsat satellite network to provide a communica-
tion link between the aircraft and the Global Data Center. ARINC
provides coverage within the continental United States, Hawaii,
Alaska, the Aleutians, Guam, Saipan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and parts
of Canada; SITA covers Europe, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia,
the Caribbean, and South and Central America; AVICOM covers
Japan; and Air Canada provides coverage for Southern Canada. In
most areas while using the VHF networks, data link coverage is
excellent above Flight Level 200, but deteriorates below this flight
level. Satellite data link coverage is excellent both on the ground
and in-flight between 70° North and 70° South.
Many variables, including the amount of processing time and the
length of the message, effect the turnaround time for information.
Depending on the nature of the update request, the pilot should
expect a turnaround time of approximately five minutes when using
the VHF network and twelve minutes when using the satellite net-
work.
AFIS consists of the following components: Global Data Center
(GDC), Data Transfer Unit (DTU), Data Management Unit (DMU),
and Antenna Switching Unit (ASU).
7-1
GNS-XLS Flight Management System AFIS Operation
Rev. 3
Sep/96
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