Centralised Service 6-3 Management of Common Network Resources Service/Radio Frequency Function

Transcription

1 EUROCONTROL Centralised Service 6-3 Management of Common Network Resources Service/Radio Frequency Function Mitigating the network impact of frequency congestion

2 A COST-EFFICIENT SOLUTION A centralised service (CS) is a support service for an air navigation service (ANS) or air traffic management (ATM) function exercised at pan-european and central network level for harmonisation and cost-efficiency purpose, avoiding multiplication of investment. It leads to reduced infrastructure costs, thereby helping EU air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and Member States to come closer towards achieving EU cost-efficiency performance targets. A CS will also support the other key performance targets, such as capacity, safety and the environment. The beneficiaries of a CS are therefore the Member States, the airspace users, ANSPs, airport operators and the military. For many years EUROCONTROL has performed a significant number of aeronautical frequency management tasks in the ICAO European region on behalf of ICAO and under the guidance of the ICAO Frequency Management Group (FMG). The successful performance of these tasks has contributed to the achievement of the ICAO Strategic Objectives. We are certain that EUROCONTROL will continue on this track Luis Fonseca de Almeida Regional Director ICAO EUR/NAT Office Benefits For three consecutive years the Radio Frequency Function (RFF) of EUROCONTROL s Network Manager has been able to satisfy all European frequency requests, something unseen for more than 10 years. Also the time required to satisfy difficult frequency requests has been more than halved, making frequencies available to support airspace improvement projects faster than has been the case for a very long time. CS6-3 will contribute to expand these benefits via the use of more efficient tools and via the implementation of a radio frequency monitoring service. The Common Network Resources Service/Radio Frequency Function will provide a unique European database in which communication and navigation frequency assignments are recorded, namely the European central register of frequency assignments. This avoids each State/ANSP having to implement fragmented databases that need to be coordinated, simplifying the frequency assignment process while maintaining State sovereignty over the frequency spectrum. Implementing monitoring services will increase the accuracy of the overall picture (i.e. by identifying any discrepancy between frequency assignments and actual use of the frequency) and will improve the Radio Frequency Function effectiveness. 2

3 Frequency Request Satisfaction Rate Request Satisfaction Rate 100% 90% 80% NM RFF 90% 100% 100% 100% 70% Initial 8.33 Deployment 60% 59% 62% 8.33 VEX 65% 64% 50% 8.33 HEX 53% 44% 44% 40% 40% 40% 36% 38% 40% 35% 30% 20% Year 23% 8.33 HEX = Horizontal Expansion 8.33 VEX = Vertical Expansion Cost-Efficiency The CS6-3 contribution will increase cost-efficiency by: 1. increasing the efficiency of the European coordination of frequency assignments; 2. improving the quality of the information in the central register of frequency assignments, enabling the timely satisfaction of new frequency requests; 3. supporting States and ICAO by improving the interregional coordination of frequency assignments; 4. automating the block planing process, the process of re-planning existing assignments to satisfy frequency requests in the most congested areas; 5. supporting the National Frequency Managers (NFMS) and the Network Manager in the definition of the most effective monitoring plan; 6. providing and operating monitoring stations for States that may not have them available for a specific campaign required in the monitoring plan; 7. providing and operating monitoring stations for States which may wish to reduce their cost for monitoring campaigns required in the monitoring plan. 3

4 Background Radio frequencies are a key enabler for air traffic management, voice and data communications, radio navigation and surveillance. CS6-3 is a centralised service designed to support the EUROCONTROL Network Manager in its Radio Frequency Function (RFF) which is mitigating the network impact of frequency congestion. CS6-3 will support the international coordination of aeronautical frequency requests and will also support the monitoring of aviation frequency bands and frequency assignments. CS6-3 will deliver major improvements to the existing SAFIRE, the central register of frequency assignments for the ICAO EUR region. These improvements will address all the requirements of the Network Manager RFF as defined in the NMF Implementing Rule. CS6-3 will also contribute to the cost-effective MONITORING of the aeronautical bands to ensure appropiate usage and support radio interference analysis in EUROCONTROL Member States. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Centralised services will contribute significantly to the Single European Sky Performance Targets and support the implementation of SESAR developments. They encourage air navigation service providers and the ATM manufacturing industry to work together to develop innovative solutions and provide services beyond national boundaries, covering the airspace of the EUROCONTROL Member States and positioning themselves on the world scene. Standardisation of the interfaces with the CS services, initially at European level, will support this process. SAFIRE and MONITORING will be run under a contract let by EUROCONTROL in its capacity as Network Manager. The service will be provided to all EUROCONTROL s Member States, ANSPs, AMCs and the military. The existing governance arrangements of the Network Manager will be maintained. 4

5 MONITORING service Monitoring Stations Raw Monitoring Data Monitoring Experts Monitoring Reports and Processed Data Monitoring Repository Sectors & Frequencies CS5 Frequency Assignments SUR Data CS7-2 Monitoring Data & Reports SAFIRE Service Conflict Resolution Best Practices Assignment Corrections Network Manager Frequency Proposal Frequency Assignment Applicant Frequency Request Frequency Licence National Frequency Manager & State CS6-3 SAFIRE (Spectrum and Frequency Information Resource) is a web-based application, developed by EUROCONTROL in cooperation with the ICAO FMG, to assist with frequency management activities in the European Region. At its core, SAFIRE has a database containing information about every aeronautical frequency assignment in the communication and navigation bands, the European central register of frequency assignments. Following the request of an applicant for the use of a new aeronautical frequency, the National Frequency Managers use SAFIRE to obtain the agreement of other States on the use of the frequency in a specific geographical area for the requested operational service. Once the use of the frequency is accepted by the other States (i.e. the frequency assignment is registered) a licence can be issued to the applicant by the State. In addition to the provision of the SAFIRE application, the Radio Frequency Function (RFF) of the Network Manager supports States in their use of SAFIRE by mediating in case of conflicts, promoting the use of best practices and supporting improvements in the quality of the information in the database. The MONITORING service will perform the physical monitoring of the aeronautical spectrum in order to support the RFF in the tasks related to the promotion of best practices (ensuring that frequencies are used correctly), the improvement of the quality of the SAFIRE information, as well as in the tasks of analysis of radio interference events. 5

6 CS6-3 SERVICE COMPONENTS SCOPE OF CS6-3 The two services of CS6-3, SAFIRE and MONITORING, build on each other but are operated independently from each other and will use separate technical components. The MONITORING service will use the frequency assignment data of SAFIRE. CS6-3 is one of the 18 centralised services proposed by EUROCONTROL to help its Member States and their ANSPs meet performance targets and to offer new capabilities to all ATM actors. SAFIRE Due to the ever-increasing congestion of the limited aeronautical radio spectrum, more advanced tools and enhanced frequency management procedures are required. The new SAFIRE, delivered by CS6-3, will facilitate the use of such procedures, compiled by the RAFT in the RFF Best Practices, in the framework of EC Regulation No Johan Van Der Heyden (Belgocontrol) Belgian National Frequency Manager Radio Frequency Function group (RAFT) Chairman For almost ten years SAFIRE has been the automated web-based European frequency coordination tool. Access to SAFIRE is strictly controlled as the information in the database is confidential. Only the persons nominated by the National Frequency Managers, ICAO regional offices and the Network Manager can have access to SAFIRE information (around 150 users in the ICAO EUR Region). CS6-3 will deliver and operate an improved version of the SAFIRE system which will meet all the requirements of the NM RFF as defined in the SAFIRE User Requirements document approved by the European National Frequency Managers at their third meeting in July The SAFIRE development will be performed incrementally, in two phases. A first version will be produced during Phase 1 and will allow the start of operations. During the optional Phase 2, advanced functionalities will be implemented fully meeting ICAO and NM requirements. Phase 1 The scope of Phase 1 covers the following core business functions, together with the access rights management and system management functions: The coordination process in accordance with the new data model, rules and workflow defined by the NM RFF Cooperative Decision Making arrangements; The mechanism for highlighting assignments which have incomplete or inconsistent information and must be corrected; The automation of the block planning key process, which is done manually today. 6

7 Phase 2 The scope of the optional Phase 2 is the implementation of a set of important functions listed below, plus other functions aimed at reducing the frequency management workload: Data quality assurance features: best practices compliance checks; advanced frequency search and compatibility check mechanisms; RFF KPIs calculation and reporting; Faster coordination process. MONITORING The correct use of the aeronautical frequencies will be verified against the ITU regulations and the ICAO standards and recommended practices applicable to the systems that are allowed to operate in each aeronautical frequencies band. The verification of the SAFIRE information will ensure that the frequencies are used in accordance with the frequency assignments, and respecting the applicable RFF best practices. The analysis of radio interference events may require the fast deployment of monitoring stations in specific geographical areas as well as detailed analysis to determine the interference mechanism and the interferer. Often correlation analysis with data from other sources is required. CS6-3 will contribute to the preparation of the yearly RFF monitoring plan and conduct the monitoring campaigns assigned to NM within that plan. The MONITORING activities will provide the measuring of transmissions in aeronautical bands in order to: 1. ensure aeronautical frequencies are used correctly; 2. verify that the information in the SAFIRE database is correct; 3. provide support to the analysis of radio interference events. These RFF monitoring activities will be shared between the European States and NM. The monitoring campaigns assigned to NM will be performed, under NM responsibility, by the CS6-3 service provider. The Radio Frequency Function of the Network Manager has been able to satisfy all frequency requests at a time when new frequencies were required to support an increased operational flexibility and deliver increased capacity in many ACCs in Europe. This has very effectively mitigated the impact on the network of the aeronautical radio frequency shortage. It is important that Phase 1 activities to demonstrate the benefits of implementing CS6-3 is completed. This is so States can make a decision on proceeding to Phase 2 implementation with the knowledge of how CS6-3 will continue to complement the NM service Simon Hocquard Chairman, Network Management Board 7

8 CS6-3 RADIO FREQUENCY SCOPE AIR-GROUND COMMUNICATIONS Voice communications (VHF air/ground communications) are used for communicating between pilots and air traffic controllers, the latter being located in air traffic control centres (both en route and approach ), and in airport s Control Towers Emergency & Guard Band Aerodrome Surface Operational Control (OPC) VHF Data Link Search and Rescue MHz Low band FM band VHF R/T High band Aeronautical voice and data communications have been allocated the frequency spectrum from to 137 MHz by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). The small band from to MHz has been reserved for air/ground data communications. Aeronautical voice frequencies are assigned to specific services and volumes of airspace, and SAFIRE has been created to support the frequency planning processes that avoid radio interferences. The same frequency can be re-used when the distance between transmitting stations is sufficient to ensure that interferences between them cannot occur. Today, more than 12,000 frequency assignments exist in the European region for voice communications. RADIO NAVIGATION On the other hand, radio navigation provides pilots with position information from ground stations (radio beacons), enabling them to use their instrumentation to fly precisely along their intended route and to conduct precision and non-precision approach and landing. These stations, positioned at known locations, transmit a continuous or periodic radio signal with limited information content (for example its identification or location), on a specified radio frequency. There are several systems offering various levels of capability with features such as direction finder or distance measuring. Among the most well-known systems, we find VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range), DME (Distance Measuring Equipment) or ILS (Instrument Landing System). Those systems use frequencies in several VHF and UHF bands that are also re-used across Europe and coordinated using SAFIRE. CS6-3 RADIO FREQUENCY MANAGEMENT SCOPE The current SAFIRE system manages the coordination of the frequency assignments in the aeronautical frequency bands shown in the following table: LF/MF VHF UHF khz & khz MHz & MHz MHz & MHz NDB and locator ILS locator (below 112 MHz), VOR & GBAS Air-ground communications ILS glide path DME SHF MHz MLS 8

9 GEOGRAPHICAL APPLICABILITY CS6-3 OPERATIONS The services of CS6-3 will be provided to all EUROCONTROL Member States. In addition, the frequency coordination service of CS6-3 is also provided to some of the States neighbouring EUROCONTROL Member States through ICAO regional working arrangements. The geographical scope may be expanded to additional States if agreements are made for the benefit of the ATM network. SAFIRE In the ICAO European Region, civil aviation frequency matters are coordinated by the Frequency Management Group (FMG) of the ICAO European Air Navigation Planning Group (EANPG). The FMG established a strict frequency coordination procedure between all States for the assignment of a frequency to a facility 1. In a nutshell, this coordination procedure follows the (simplified) steps below: The requesting State sends a proposal for a frequency assignment to all States concerned; States may object the proposal, providing the reason for the objection: The requesting State negotiates with the States objecting; Or, the requesting State withdraws the proposal. If there is no objection, the frequency is assigned to the facility and the requesting State starts its implementation. European States have appointed National Frequency Managers authorised to grant and withdraw aeronautical frequency assignments in their State. The SAFIRE service is continuously (i.e. 24/7/365) operational and it enables the National Frequency Managers to make frequency proposals and review the proposals from other National Frequency Managers at any time. If frequency proposals are not objected by other States in SAFIRE, the frequencies can be published in AIPs and licences can be granted to applicants, but those processes are not part of the SAFIRE service, as they are managed by national processes and systems that diverge significantly in different States. Transition from the currently operational SAFIRE system towards the new SAFIRE delivered by CS6-3 will be ensured in a transparent way for the users. As the SAFIRE information is confidential, the system will be protected from intrusion. 1 A voice communication or radio navigation system located in a ground station, whether alone or combined with another system, is designated as a facility. 9

10 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MONITORING The RFF MONITORING activities will monitor, in conjunction with the National Authorities and the National Frequency Managers, aviation frequency bands and collect data about the actual use of these frequencies. It will also record spectrum data that could be used a posteriori to analyse and report on interferences. The monitoring data will be recorded in a secured database that can be accessed by the Network Manager. The CS6-3 service provider will support the Network Manager and the National Frequency Managers in defining the monitoring plan for the following year. Around four monitoring campaigns per year (of variable durations) are expected to be performed by the CS6-3 service provider. These campaigns will be tailored to address specific frequency issues that may have a network impact and will be fully detailed in the RFF monitoring plan approved by the Radio Frequency Function group (RAFT). The CS6-3 service provider will design, implement, deploy and operate the monitoring stations required to perform the monitoring. These monitoring stations will be transportable in order to allow their deployment in the geographical region where the monitoring campaign is to take place. The CS6-3 service provider will support the Network Manager and the State involved in the selection of the best sites for the deployment of the monitoring stations. These monitoring stations will be based as much as possible on COTS equipment and software. The initial CS6-3 services will include three monitoring stations. SAFIRE The users of SAFIRE are the National Frequency Managers (NFMs), the people authorised by the NFMs (e.g. ANSPs, PTTs, Ministries of Communications, NSAs, CAAs), ICAO and the Network Manager. MONITORING The users of the MONITORING service will be the NM RFF members. RFF The CS6-3 Service Provider will support the RFF by providing the CS6-3 services as described in this brochure. After the completion of a monitoring campaign the CS6-3 service provider will be responsible for the disassembly and transport of the monitoring stations to the location of the following monitoring campaign or to a storage area. The CS6-3 service provider will also perform the analysis of the monitored data and deliver to the Network Manager reports containing results of the analysis plus the agreed raw monitoring data. The Network Manager will inform the National Frequency Managers about the results of the monitoring campaigns. 10

11 THE NETWORK MANAGER RADIO FREQUENCY FUNCTION The European Commission Regulation (EU) No 677/2011 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of air traffic management (ATM) network functions and amending Regulation (EU) No 691/2010 was adopted on 7 July The purpose of the ATM Network Function Regulation is to contribute to the sustainable development of the European air transport system by ensuring the required level of performance, compatibility and coordination of activities. To achieve this, the Regulation made provision for the appointment of a Network Manager to perform the tasks necessary for the execution of the ATM network functions. In September 2011, the EUROCONTROL Member States accepted the European Commission s decision to nominate EUROCONTROL as Europe s ATM Network Manager (Permanent Commission Directive 11/77). Amongst the four network functions undertaken by the Network Manager (NM) is the Radio Frequency Function (RFF). THE RADIO FREQUENCY FUNCTION The requirements for provision of the RFF are laid down in Annex II of the ATM Network Functions Regulation. It requires Member States to nominate a National Frequency Manager responsible for ensuring that frequency assignments are made, modified and released in accordance with the Regulation. LINKING CS6-3 TO OTHER CSs CS7-2 CS7-2, Network Infrastructure Performance Monitoring and Analysis Service/the Performance of 1030/1090 RF Bands (NIPS/ SUR-RF) may receive surveillance frequency recordings in order to perform a more detailed surveillance performance analysis. CS CS5, European ATM Information Management Service (EAIMS), will transmit (as off-line files) sector and frequency data to the monitoring service of CNR/RFF. Until CS5 is available, the files will be provided by NM systems. The Regulation requires that Cooperative Decision Making (CDM) between NFMs and the NM are based on arrangements approved by the Network Management Board after a positive opinion of the Single Sky Committee. The RFF CDM arrangements provide the rules of procedure of the consultation and working groups that support the RFF work. Download the CS6-3 CONOPS 11

12 CS6-3 SERVICES IMPLEMENTATION In line with the Permanent Commission Directive 14/83 dated 3 February 2014, the CS6-3 contract will be composed of two phases: Phase 1 for the development, set-up and demonstration of SAFIRE and the MONITORING capabilities. An optional Phase 2 for the operations of SAFIRE and the MONITORING capabilities. The Phase 2 options for the operations of SAFIRE and of the MONITORING capabilities will be activated only after a positive decision by the EUROCONTROL Provisional Council. The two options can be activated independent of each other. CS6-3 timeline EUROCONTROL was entrusted by its Member States to develop, setup and demonstrate CS6-3 in the Calls for Tenders were launched in February 2015 to those organisations that were accepted as a result of the CFI. EUROCONTROL expects to select the consortium to develop the SAFIRE and MONITORING demonstrators at the end of with a view to having the software developed, set-up and demonstrated by Q Following a Call for Interest (CFI) in March 2014,... The operation will start after EUROCONTROL Provisional Council s approval on the basis of a successful demonstration of CS

13 SCARCE RESOURCES: RADIO FREQUENCY CONGESTION IN EUROPE It is increasingly difficult to find a new voice frequency for en-route and terminal airspace sectors or approach positions in central Europe. The aviation radio frequencies band allocated to voice communications has so many users that accommodating a new request can take months, if not years. The RFF periodically generates frequency congestion charts, like the one above, which depicts the number of frequencies available at each geographical position. The grey and black area across central Europe shows where there are no ACC frequencies directly available. When a frequency is not directly available, a complex process, known as block planning, is launched. This process involves changing the frequencies of the neighbouring sectors and services to make new ones available. A domino effect is inevitable: it can take up to five of those frequency changes (known as frequency shifts ) to satisfy the request for a new one. The pale gray area in the above congestion chart indicates where more than five shifts would be required to find a suitable frequency. this happens - and it is usually for technical reasons, such as unexpected interferences on the new frequency - all shifts, even those completed so far, must be abandoned and the whole process must be restarted from the beginning. To improve the situation, several comprehensive exercises were undertaken by the RFF and most of the European States to improve the quality of the VHF frequency assignment data in the NM central register. These exercises ensured best practices were followed and looked for opportunities to reduce frequency congestion. The resulting benefit was significant, both in terms of number of frequencies gained and the decrease in the number of frequency shifts required to accommodate a new frequency request. This benefit has enabled to continue to satisfy all frequency requests in the most frequency congested European areas. This had not been possible for more than 10 years as shown on the chart of Page 3. In addition the time to satisfy those requests has been reduced to less than half of what is was just three years ago. In many cases, the frequency shifts process, in addition to being lengthy and expensive, cannot be completed.when 13

14 Number of Days Average Frequency request Satisfaction time in days Year Stopping the domino effect To satisfy the frequencies demand for the coming years in addition to the creation of the Radio Frequency Function the extension of the use of 8.33 khz channel spacing radios was also agreed, to make more communication channels available. On 14 June 2012, the 46th Single Sky Committee gave a positive opinion on the proposal to extend the use of 8.33 khz radios below FL195 in three phases: Phase 1 (17 November 2013): all new manufactured and installed VHF radios are required to be 8.33 khz capable. Phase 2 (2014), the Interim Phase, a small number of control sectors in the most frequency congested areas will require 8.33 khz radio equipage. Because most aircraft operating in these sectors are already 8.33 khz capable, phase 2 will deliver early benefits at minimum cost. Phase 3 (2018), the Final Phase, aims for full deployment in all European airspace. However, European States can propose to delay deployment in areas that have a limited network impact. 14

15 GLOSSARY A-CDM ACC AIP ANS ANSP ATM CAAs CDM CFI CNS COTS CS DME EAIMS EANPG EU FL FMG GBAS ICAO ILS ITU khz KPI LF MF MHz MLS NDB NFM NIPS/SUR-RF NM NMF NSAs OPC PTTs RF RFF R/T SESAR SHF UHF VHF VOR Airport Collaborative Decision Making Area Control Centre Aeronautical Information Publication Air Navigation Service Air Navigation Service Provider Air Traffic Management Civil Aeronautics Administrations Cooperative Decision Making Call for Interest Communication, Navigation and Surveillance Commercial off-the-shelf Centralised Service Distance Measuring Equipment European ATM Information Management Service ICAO European Air Navigation Planning Group European Union Flight Level Frequency Management Group Ground Based Augmentation System International Civil Aviation Organization Instrument Landing System International Telecommunications Union Kilohertz Key Performance Indicator Low Frequency Medium Frequency Megahertz Microwave Landing System Non-Directional Beacon National Frequency Manager Network Infrastructure Performance Monitoring and Analysis Service/ the Performance of 1030/1090 RF Bands Network Manager Network Management Functions National Supervisory Authorities Operational Control Postal, Telegraph and Telephone services/agencies Radio Frequency Radio Frequency Function Receiver/Transmitter Single European Sky ATM Research Super High Frequency Ultra High Frequency Very High Frequency VHF Omnidirectional Range 15

16 CS6-3: Management of Common Network Resources Service/Radio Frequency Function (CNR/RFF) For more information on CS6-3, please contact CS6-3 Project Team: For more information on the Radio Frequency Function, please contact: EUROCONTROL EUROCONTROL May 2015 EUROCONTROL is a pan-european, civil-military, intergovernmental organisation for the airspace of its Member States Albania, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.