FANS Datalink Networks and NAT DLM
 

Hi
The company I work for has recently added a new tail to its fleet. The aircraft is equipped with Iridium SATCOM (M3) and HF radio with HFDL capability. We are looking to upgrade to FANS to be compliant with NAT DLM and fly over the Atlantic like normal people do and not like nomads on blue spruce and below FL290 to stay outside NAT HLA. The VHF transceiver does not have the VDL specification and cannot be used for datalink. I know that certain ANSPs do not allow the use of some of the subnetworks like SATCOM but I've seen the operators flying across the pond on OTS with only J7 (FANS over Iridium) in their FPLs. The question is if we have the setup for FANS CPDLC via Iridium SATCOM but lacking the VHF which has incorporated VDL mode A or mode 2 can we still operate within NAT HLA with ACARS over Iridium only? And if so, are there any benefits (other than redundancy) of having different FANS implementation e.g. FANS 1/A HFDL and SATCOM together? The aircraft is DLS exempted by the European Commission and we are primarily interested in flying over the Atlantic.