10
Waypoints
Important decisions for
aviation at the World
Radiocommunication
Conference
THE WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE 2015 (WRC15), held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 2-27
November 2015 has resulted in a number
of important aviation-related decisions.
These include the protection of the aviation spectrum from encroachment by
mobile telecommunications organisations, an agreement on controlling aircraft systems using Wireless Avionics
Intra-Communications (WAIC) and an
agreement on a primary allocation to
the radiolocation service in the 77.5–78.0
GHz band for ground-based applications.
Further important decisions included
increased protection of the COSPASSARSAT system in the frequency band
406 – 406.1 MHz, a new primary allocation to the aeronautical mobile-satellite
(R) service in the Earth-to-space direction
in the frequency band 1087.7-1092.3 MHz
for the satellite reception of Automatic
Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)
emissions from aircraft and a mitigation
of the risk to aviation of using non safety
services for safety-of-life services.
The EUROCONTROL delegation comprised Raffi Khatcherian (head of delegation), Sven Fraenkel and Jacky Pouzet.
EUROCONTROL advises States on aviation
spectrum matters and is consulted at different negotiation steps. It also promotes
the European Aeronautical Common Position (EACP) and makes sure that European
aviation has the appropriate secure radio
spectrum it needs to operate safely and
efficiently, that aviation’s “safety-of-life”
services are protected from harmful interference and that European aviation can
implement new technologies necessary
to meet future growth.
The risk to aviation of using non safety
On 14 December 2015, Dr Fang Liu,
Secretary General of ICAO, visited
EUROCONTROL. Dr Fang Liu was
briefed about the different functions
of EUROCONTROL including the
support the Agency provides to ICAO
for a range of tasks and functions. She
was also briefed on the Agency’s role
in crisis management and air traffic
flow management on European level
and visited the Network Manager
Operations Centre.
services to provide a safety-of-life service
was mitigated and postponed to 2023.
This particular WRC-15 agenda item was
about using Fixed-Satellite Service (FSS)
bands, which is not recognised in the ITU
as a safety service, for the Control and
Non-Payload Communications (CNPC)
of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in
non-segregated airspaces, a safety-of-life
service. Provisional allocation will come
into force after the WRC-23 (planned for
2023) upon the approval of necessary
standards. Should no solution be agreed,
the ITU RESOLUTION COM4/5 (WRC-15)
will be abrogated.
WRC-15 also approved a worldwide
primary allocation to the aeronautical
mobile (route) service in the band 42004400 MHz to support WAIC. WAIC will
enhance efficiency and reliability while
maintaining or improving current
required levels of safety. It will reduce the
wiring and associated aircraft weight,
reducing fuel burn and emissions; and
include the ability to obtain more data
from the aircraft systems during all
phases of flight.
WRC-15 agreed on a primary allocation
to the radiolocation service in the 77.5–
78.0 GHz band for ground-based applications, including automotive radars.
Aviation will be able to use off-the-shelf
automotive radars located in the wing
tips of aircraft to detect other ground
objects that might be in the path of the
taxiing aircraft. And the WRC agreed to
beef up protection of the frequency used
for satellite-based Search and Rescue – the
COSPAS-SARSAT system.
The WRC granted a new primary allocation to the aeronautical mobile-satellite
(R) service in the Earth-to-space direction
in the frequency band 1087.7-1092.3 MHz
for the satellite reception of Automatic
Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADSB) emissions from aircraft, limited to messages from aircraft that are transmitted
in accordance with ICAO standards. The
WRC agreed a Resolution that outlines
protection arrangements and future
studies related to the reception of ADS-B
transmissions by the satellites.
To accommodate the evolving Global
Flight Tracking applications, WRC-15
approved an agenda item for WRC-19
aiming at considering regulatory actions
for the development and implementation
of the Global Aeronautical Distress and
Safety System (GADSS). ▪