vdl

VDL is an acronym that can refer to several subjects, most notably a Dutch industrial group and a VHF data link standard used in aviation.

VDL Groep

VDL Groep, often simply called VDL, is a Dutch multinational manufacturing and engineering conglomerate headquartered in Eindhoven. The group traces its origins to 1953 when Wim van der Leegte established a metalworking company that later expanded into a diversified group. The name VDL derives from the founder’s surname, Van der Leegte. Through numerous subsidiaries and affiliates, VDL operates across sectors such as automotive, bus and coach manufacturing, contract manufacturing and engineering services, and energy-related activities. The group emphasizes integrated supply chains and long-term relationships with customers and has a presence in Europe and other regions, with notable operations including VDL Bus & Coach, VDL Nedcar (a car manufacturing facility in Born), and the VDL Enabling Technologies Group.

VDL in aviation

VDL also denotes VHF Data Link, a family of air-ground data communication standards used in aviation to complement or replace voice communications for certain operations. Implementations such as VDL Mode 2 provide higher data rates to support CPDLC (Controller–Pilot Data Link Communications), ADS-C, weather information, and other operational messages. VDL is standardized by international bodies such as ICAO and is widely used in European airspace under Eurocontrol oversight, enabling more efficient and safer communications between aircraft and ground stations.

Summary

In different contexts, VDL commonly refers to the Dutch VDL Groep and to the aviation VHF Data Link standard, two distinct and unrelated domains.