In its monitor-only mode the PVDL provides a viewing window into the various layers of VDL Mode 2 providing both raw and interpreted displays of all uplink and downlink activity within VHF radio range. In this mode it is possible to observe the link establishment procedures plus subsequent exchanges between aircraft and ground stations. Not only are the RF packets viewable in their raw form, they can also be viewed at the various layers of processing such as in AVLC frame format and, for full ATN implementation, as ISO 8208 packets.

In its interactive mode the PVDL operates as a fully configurable VDL Ground Station or VDL Aircraft establishing Mode 2 links and participating in communications - including full AOA operation. Again, full data trace and diagnostic displays are available at various layers of message processing. Control over XID Frames and parameters is provided.   

Operation of the PVDL software suite complies with the specifications and requirements of  ICAO Annex 10, Volume III, Part 1 - Digital Data Communications Systems    -  in particular Chapter 6 - VHF Air-Ground Digital Link (VDL),   ICAO Doc 9776 - Manual on VHF Digital Link (VDL) Mode 2 - and the requirements for AOA (ACARS-over-AVLC) as defined by Arinc AEEC 631 and 618.

In a controlled testing environment PVDL can also be set up to transmit valid and invalid VDL data on the channel and to create a ‘busy/congested’ environment. This enables aircraft and ground system recovery and resilience features to be tested and verified.

In "Concurrent Mode", the PVDL ground station transmits ACARS MSK squitter uplinks - on an entirely different frequency.  This option allows avionics under test to detect the presence of the VDL Mode 2 ground station based on its advertised presence in the squitter content.

The portability and adaptability of the PVDL guarantees its suitability in various operational environments including field testing, line & flight testing and laboratory development testing. Software modularisation of PVDL offers system developers the opportunity to integrate various hardware and/or software components of PVDL into other development systems and projects.

With the future optional ARINC 429 interface, on-board testing and trouble-shooting becomes available at levels that range from simple "go/no go" testing to more detailed and interpreted analysis of data exchanged between on-board systems.

PVDL can be tailored with various options to provide the capability to ensure that your testing requirements are met with the least effort. These options include:

• Ground Station Emulation
• Aircraft Emulation
• Ground Station Emulation with ACARS Squitter Emitter
• IFrame API - Supports the creation of automated testing / applications that send and receive 8208 INFO frames.
• AOA API - Supports the creation of automated testing / applications that send and receive ACARS over AVLC (AOA) messages.
• Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) Decoder - Presents the ability to monitor ATN to view and filter traffic data.
• Aeronautical Telecommunication Network (ATN) Stack - Provides functionality to test Connection Management (CM), Controller-Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC) and Automatic Dependant Surveilance (ADS) over VDL2.