AIR TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION Aeronautical Spectrum Management Seminar Nairobi

AIR TRAFFIC ORGANIZATION Aeronautical Spectrum Management Seminar Nairobi, Kenya September 2007 Mike Biggs, US FAA 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 1

Spectrum Management Functions • Chapter 6 of the ICAO Spectrum Handbook Provides an Overview – Regulatory, Technical, Licensing and Registration Domains • Day-to-Day – Frequency Assignments – Frequency Coordination (e. g. , new-system testing) – Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Investigation/Mitigation • See separate presentation • Longer Term – Analysis of future systems • Both aeronautical and non-aeronautical systems – Spectrum Allocations • Both seeking new, and defense of existing, allocations • World Radiocommunication Conferences and Preparations 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 2

Example: FAA Spectrum Engineering Services Director ATC Spectrum Engineering Services (AJW-6) Spectrum Chief Systems Engineer (AJW-61) Technical Operations Service Area Frequency Management Officers Manager Spectrum Business Management (AJW-62) Manager Spectrum Assignment and Engineering (AJW-63) Manager Spectrum Planning and International (AJW-64) Manager Spectrum Testing and Engineering Analysis (AJW-65) Do. D Military Liaison Western Service Area Central Service Area Eastern Service Area Central Service Area Western Service Area 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L Aeronautical Center Oklahoma City, OK A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C Tech Center Atlantic City, NJ O R G A N I 3

Aeronautical Frequency Bands • Amount of Spectrum is Comparable to that Available for Maritime – Much less than that allocated for broadcast and commercial communications • General Recognition that Civil Aviation is a Global Enterprise – ICAO Convention – International Standards for Aviation Equipment (SARPs) – Safety Implications have Historically Resulted in Exclusive Bands • This model is under pressure from commercial interests 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 4

E. g. , Bands Supporting Aviation 190 – 285 & 285 – 435 & 510 – 535 k. Hz 2100 - 28, 000 k. Hz 74. 8 – 75. 2 MHz 108 - 112 MHz 112 - 118 MHz 118 - 137 MHz 138 - 150. 8 & 162 - 174 MHz 225 - 328. 6 & 335. 4 - 400 MHz 328. 6 - 335. 4 MHz 406. 1 - 420 MHz 932 - 935 & 941 - 944 MHz 960 - 1215 MHz 1030 & 1090 MHz 1215 - 1390 MHz 1545 - 1559 MHz 1559 - 1610 MHz 1610 -1626. 5 MHz 1646. 5 - 1660. 5 MHz 1710 - 1850 MHz 2700 - 3000 MHz 5000 - 5150 MHz 5600 - 5650 MHz 7125 - 8500 MHz 9000 - 9200 MHz 14. 4 - 15. 35 GHz 15. 7 - 16. 2 GHz 21. 2 - 23. 6 GHz 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N Non-directional Beacons HF Communications NAVAID (Marker Beacons) VOR; ILS Localizer VOR; GBAS (GNSS augmentation) VHF Air/Ground Communications Fixed, Mobile UHF Air/Ground Communications (State a/c) ILS Glide Slope Fixed, Mobile Fixed NAVAID (TACAN/DME, etc. ); GNSS; UAT SSR (ATCRBS; Mode S); ACAS Air Route Surveillance Radar; GNSS at Ref Stations Satellite-Based Comm (To Aircraft) GNSS Satellite-Based Comm (Iridium, bi-directional) Satellite-Based Comm (From Aircraft) Fixed Airport Surveillance and Weather Radar Microwave Landing System Terminal Doppler Weather Radar Fixed Surface Detection Radar (ASDE-X) Microwave Link Surface Detection Radar (ASDE-3) Microwave Link A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 5

Day-to-Day (Frequency Assignments) • Frequency Assignment Process Can Get Very Complicated. For example in the US: – Aeronautical Facilities • Communication: 14, 383 facilities including 2, 390 radio sites • Navigation: 11, 122 facilities including 1, 027 Very High frequency (VHF) Omni directional Range (VOR) • Landing: 1, 375 Localizers • Surveillance: 1, 882 facilities including 369 radar sites – Air Traffic Control Facilities • • • Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) Air Traffic Control Towers (ATCT) Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSS) Certificated Airports 21 30 518 76 575 * Certificated airports serve Air Carrier Operations with aircraft seating more than 9 passengers seats. 37, 763 frequency assignments to support these facilities! 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 6

FAA NAS Airspace Complexity of Airspace Atlanta Center Airspace 46 three dimensional cells Each cell (called sector) has a frequency protected VHF and UHF assignment 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 7

Frequency Assignments (cont) • Complex airspace and sheer number of assignments call for structured process – Standardized procedures based on equipment interference masks (e. g. , ICAO standards and guidance material) – Standardized models • For more information on how this is accomplished in the United States, the FAA Spectrum Management Regulations and Procedures Manual can be found at: http: //www. faa. gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_uni ts/techops/spec_management/library/orders. cfm 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 8

Day-to-Day (Frequency Coordination) Example: Determine interference contours for new-system trials. Use simulation models to derive contours which are reflected in Notice to Airmen (NOTAMs) 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 9

Longer Term (Analysis of Future Systems) • To the extent possible, ICAO addresses interference immunity of aviation systems during system design • Take into account the spectrum environment • “Build in” resistance to RFI • Case study on Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) – Designed to operate in heavily-congested 960 -1215 MHz band • Surveyed all existing users, cataloged signal characteristics – Selected channel that was least-used on worldwide basis – Tailored UAT signal/protocol to not-interfere with existing users – Tailored UAT receiver front-end and signal error-correction to best mitigate operational environment (I. e. , maximum protection from narrowband, pulsed signals) – Iterative design – assumptions verified via test and simulation • Analysis of non-aviation systems is required to ensure their implementation will not interfere with aviation systems – Generally concerned with out-of-band spurious emission levels – E. g. , GNSS protection from mobile-satellite handset transmissions. 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 10

Longer Term (Spectrum Allocations - 1) • ICAO RF Handbook: – Chapters 5 and 6 deal with ICAO Involvement in Spectrum Planning and Management • Commercial pressures to share bands – E. g. , Mobile communications (“IMT advanced”) • Long aviation development time-lines may give the appearance of fallow spectrum – E. g. , Microwave Landing System (MLS) band • Generally however, due to safety concerns, very limited potential for sharing aeronautical bands – Failure: Country footnotes allowing fixed service in GNSS band – Success: RNSS in 1164 -1215 MHz, due mainly to very low RNSS signal levels • Considerable technical effort going into maintaining current aviation spectrum. – ACP WGF provides leadership within ICAO 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 11

Longer Term (Spectrum Allocations - 2) • World Radiocommunication Conferences offer opportunities for changes to the International Telecommunicaiton Union (ITU) Table of Frequency Allocations – For example, WRC-07 Agenda Item 1. 6 offers potential for new AM(R)S allocations • In order to be effective however, aviation must provide a united front in preparation for, and during, those Conferences. Administrations should be urged to: – provide experts from their civil aviation authorities to fully participate in development of States’ and regional positions, and development of aviation interests at the ITU; and – ensure, to the maximum extent possible, that their delegations to regional conferences, ITU Study Groups and WRCs include representatives of experts from their civil aviation administrations authorities or other aviation officials who are fully prepared to represent aviation interests; Topic of Secretariat Paper to CIAO 36 th Assembly (18 -28 Sept, ‘ 07) 11/10/2020 FE D E R A L A V I A T I O N A D M I N I S T R A T I O N • A I R T R A F F I C O R G A N I 12