AVIATION SPECTRUM GROUP REPORT OF TWENTY-THIRD MEETING The 23 th meeting of the Aviation Spectrum Group was held at the offices of the Civil Aviation Authority, 55 Featherston St, Wellington, on Wednesday 12 November 2014. The meeting opened at 1015. PRESENT Alan Jamieson (Chairman) Bruce Emirali Tommy Chee Craig Scott Dave Kershaw Alistair Falconer Kelvin Barnsdale Toby Farmer APOLOGIES: Eddy D Amico Mark Shepherd Phil Wansbrough Declan Smiddy Wayne Thomas AVA Ltd NZ Defence Force MBIE MBIE D K Consulting Airways New Zealand Canterbury University Airservices Australia Air New Zealand RNZAF INTRODUCTION The Chairman opened the meeting at 1015. He welcomed those present and accepted apologies. REPORT OF TWENTY-SECOND MEETING AND MATTERS ARISING The Report of the Twenty-second Meeting was accepted with one minor change. (the amended Report has been circulated to the Group). The Draft Agenda was accepted. Alan Jamieson noted that he and Toby Farmer had agreed at the last meeting to circulate the ASG with a proposal for revision to the Preliminary View on AI 1.5. Alan apologised for not circulating the revision to the Group; it had been submitted to MBIE. Testing of Link 16 Bruce Emirali said that the RNZAF now had an antenna for the test system. However, the installation of new DME at both Whenuapai and Ohakea had included changes to the operating frequencies; this meant that the minimum distances for Link 16 would have to be reviewed. 1
REPORTS ON MEETINGS OF INTEREST TO ASG a. ITU-R-WP5B, Geneva, 19-30 May 2014 b. APG2015-3, Brisbane, 9-13 June 2014 c. ICAO CNS SG, Beijing, 14-18 July 2014 d. AWG-17, Macau, 23-26 September 2014 e. ITU-R-WP5D, Geneva, 15-22 Oct 2014 f. ITU Plenipotentiary, Busan, 20 October 7 November 2014 g. ITU-R-WP5B, Geneva, 27 Oct 7 Nov 2014 ITU-R-WP5B, Geneva, 19 30 May 2014 Dave Kershaw reported that New Zealand had prepared a draft contribution on AI 1.17, but that it was not put forward. The draft CPM report on AI 1.17 had 2 Methods which included 7 options. One option, probably initiated by the French military, included hard limits on radiation. The 23 GHz band was not an option at present. Alan said that the AI 1.5 discussions were a struggle, but that text had been provided for the draft CPM report. Dave commented that Iran had produced legal advice from the ITU-R that a new allocation to the FSS could not be made under the terms of AI 1.5. Such an allocation might provide some commercial advantage to some FSS operators. APG 2015-3, Brisbane, 9 13 June 2014 Dave commented on AI 1.17 and that there were 8 input contributions on agenda item 1.17 as well as a liaison statement from the APT Wireless Group which had commenced drafting a report on the use of the bands 2 700-2 900 MHz, 4 200-4 400 MHz and 5 350-5 460 MHz in the Asia Pacific region. On the basis of the contributions there was general agreement that: 1. APT Members support relevant ITU-R studies on WAIC in accordance with Resolution 423 (WRC-12). 2. APT Members support a primary allocation to AM(R)S in the frequency band 4 200-4 400 MHz, limited to WAIC systems. 3. APT Members are also of the view that the introduction of WAIC systems should not constrain the existing primary service to which this frequency band is allocated. It was also noted that WP 5B is developing a working document towards a preliminary draft new Report ITU-R M.[WAIC_SHARING_22/23 GHz] covering sharing studies between WAIC systems and services allocated in the 22.5-22.55 GHz and 23.55-23.6 GHz frequency bands. This ensures awareness of an additional band in case it is required in order to satisfy the agenda item at WRC- 15. ICAO CNS SG, 21 25 July 2014 Toby said that Global Flight Tracking (GFT) was discussed, particularly with respect to space-based ADS-B. India had expressed a desire to move to 8.33 khz channel spacing in the 118-138 MHz band; only in Europe uses 8.33 khz 2
channels at present. The meeting reviewed the ICAO Position, with very little comment. AWG 17, Pattaya, Thailand, 18 21 March 2014 Dave reported that the meeting had considered 3 bands, 2.7 2.9 GHz, 4.2 4.4 GHz and 5.35 5.65 GHz, because it had sought input on those bands at the previous meeting. The work was now finished. Iran had noted its use of FS in the 4.2 4.4 GHz band. ITU-R-WP5D, Geneva, 15-22 October 2013 Alan reported that there were no matters arising of interest or concern to aviation from the 20 th meeting of WP 5D held in Geneva. ITU Plenipotentiary, Busan, 20 October 7 November 2014 Dave said that the meeting discussed the potential for introducing GFT to the WRC-15 Agenda. New Zealand supported this; CITEL and ATU both supported a new Agenda Item, and Malaysia and ICAO also gave strong support. However, because no process for GFT was proposed, it could not be included in the CPM Report. Instead, it would be introduced in a report from the Director BR, probably in his standard report. A Note from Director BR requested WP5B and WP4C to complete studies as a matter of urgency. WP5B would hold an additional meeting devoted to GFT probably in mid-2015. ICAO WG-F Dave said there had been a recent meeting of WG-F which had reviewed the ICAO Position. ITU-R-WP5B, Geneva, 27 October - 7 November 2013 There was no report from this meeting. ICAO POSITION FOR WRC-15 The ICAO Position presented to the Inter-regional Workshop on WRC-15 Preparation (November 2014) was unchanged from the last version circulated to the Group. ASG POSITION FOR WRC-15 The meeting reviewed the ASG Position. AI 1.1 AI 1.5 The current position may need to be reviewed (by email) when the report from ICAO WG-F is available. Dave said it was important that the ASG Position identified the preferred option. AI 1.7 With regard to the 5 030 5 090 MHz band, Kelvin Barnsdale commented that MLS was the preferred landing system for UAS. 3
AI 1.10 AI 1.16 AI 1.17 The Position needed to be updated to take account of the various options available in the CPM Draft Report. Dave outlined these: Under Method A, one option was for an allocation with a new footnote on WAIC, but no Resolution. The other 3 options involved an allocation and a new Resolution, with or without footnotes. Method B proposed an allocation with a Recommendation incorporated by reference. This would be harder to change, if necessary, than the Method A options. Dave suggested that the first option of Method A was the most suitable: an allocation with a footnote to define WAIC. Alan agreed, and added that the ASG position should oppose Method A, option 3, as it introduced hard limits. The ASG should also propose that the New Zealand delegation to the CPG should press for the CPM text to be amended to reflect an allocation with a footnote, but no Resolution. Dave agreed to develop and circulate new text for the ASG Position. He would also research any work in hand to add the 23 GHz band to the CPM Report. AI 1.18 Tommy Chee pointed out that, while AI 1.18 was directed at automotive systems at around 75GHz, there had been talk of its application to sensing systems for helicopters. This item was not concerned with requirements for aeronautical spectrum, but any developments at the APG or CPG should be monitored. At present, it was not of interest to the ASG. AI 4 The ASG position on AI 4 was agreed to be to support the ICAO Position. AI 9.1.5 AI 10 There were no apparent aviation issues under AI 10. However, there was a company exploring space launches from New Zealand, so issues connected with space launch control might suggest a WRC-19 Agenda Item. The latest New Zealand position noted that CITEL proposed reviewing the meteorological radar spectrum in the 460-470 MHz band, and to consider allocations for RLAN in the 5 350 5 470 MHz band. Global Flight Tracking The New Zealand position is to support GFT being considered at WRC-15, and that any changes to the RR should be supported by studies. 4
The ASG position was agreed to be to support any action based on suitable studies in WP5B and WP4C. SCHEDULE OF MEETINGS OF INTEREST 73 rd Radio Sector, 26 Nov 2104 NZ CPG, 26 Nov 2014 ITU-R-WP5D, Auckland, 27 January 4 February 2015 APG 2015-4, Bangkok, 9-14 Feb 2015 AWG 18, Kyoto, 9 13 March 2015 CPM15-2, Geneva, 23 March 2 April 2015 NEWS AND ACTIVITIES Toby noted the formation of the New Southern Skies planning team, which was tasked with coordinating all industry activities connected with the National Airspace and Air Navigation Plan. Toby circulated some material on RPAS prepared by John Skene. Airways Alistair Falconer reported that Airways would extend the southern MLAT coverage northward, initially to Christchurch and then beyond as part of New Southern Skies. All sites would include ADS-B receivers. There was an on-going requirement for a non-cooperative surveillance system to replace the existing PSRs from 2021; new technologies were emerging and were being explored. It was expected that any new system would remain in L-Band. The existing SSRs would be retired from 2021. MBIE Craig Scott reported that MBIE had completed the move to the old NZDF building in Stout St. The updated New Zealand Positions had been circulated. Submissions on the review of the Radiocommuncations Act had been received and were on the MBIE website; cross-submissions were now invited. NZDF Bruce said the new RNZAF training aircraft had been received and apparently had standard civil avionics. The new Whenuapai and Ohakea VOR/DMEs were connected to the Airways maintenance system by microwave link. There had been a lack of liaison between the link installer, Airways and NZDF. There had been an increase in visiting military aircraft, often for very short visits. OTHER BUSINESS Kelvin spoke about activities in the Spatial Engineering Research Centre at the University of Canterbury. The focus was on navigation, aerial photography and 5
remote sensing. In 2006, Nottingham University had set up a unit at Canterbury to develop UAVs and that work was continuing in the Centre. A UAV Forum was held monthly. Kelvin noted the need for education for potential UAV operators, but said that the Airways Airshare website was a very good resource. The Centre had applied to the for two Restricted Areas for UAV trials and demonstrations, and undertood one had been granted so far. They had also applied for an exemption from the rules requiring line-of-sight operation within their Restricted Areas. He was also working with the Wireless Research Centre, especially in connection with UAV command and control. Next Meeting The next meeting will be held in April 2015 (date TBA). Alan thanked members for attending and the for hosting the meeting. The meeting closed at 1500. 6