International Air Transport AssociationInternational Air Transport Association

8.33 KHz Channel Spacing – Status, Lessons Learned and 8.33 KHz Channel Spacing – Status, Lessons Learned and a Glimpse to the Futurea Glimpse to the Future

by Steve Zerkowitzby Steve ZerkowitzAssistant Director Operations and Infrastructure - EuropeAssistant Director Operations and Infrastructure - Europe

1. The Decision1. The Decision

ICAO EUR RAN 1994 – To address the VHF frequency shortage, introduce 8.33 kHz channel spacing

ICAO COM OPS 1995 EANPG 1995 > EUROCONTROL

In Upper Airspace Only In the Core Area of Europe Only Recognized as interim measure only

2. What was wrong with this decision?2. What was wrong with this decision?

What is the definition of Upper Airspace?

Core area only? If this is an interim measure only, what

happens afterwards? Clearly, the intention was to save

money, but… Local solution with global impact

Is history about to repeat itself in the US??

3. Deadlines and Delays3. Deadlines and Delays

Original deadline: 1 January 1998 First revised deadline: 1 January

1999 Second revised deadline: 7

October 1999 Successful implementation on 7

October 1999

4. Why delays?4. Why delays?

First delay = timescale was simply too ambitious

Second delay = lack of consistent European rule making and rule promulgation

Lack of equipment, delays in certification, late ordering

Delays in spite of mandate Without a mandate, process would have

stalled

5. Correcting the mistakes of the original decision- 15. Correcting the mistakes of the original decision- 1

Carriage of equipment in the whole of the ICAO EUR Region, with exemptions where 8.33 was not yet needed

Use ICAO definition of Upper Airspace (adjust National procedures where needed)

Life beyond 8.33… still not addressed!

6. Correcting the mistakes of the original decision- 26. Correcting the mistakes of the original decision- 2

More recently…. ENPRM EUROCONTROL High Level

Communications Group

7. EUROCONTROL Project Management - 17. EUROCONTROL Project Management - 1

Textbook example of best possible practice in a very difficult environment 8.33 PMC 8.33 Retrofit Group 8.33 Contact Persons Group Close contact with airspace users’

organizations and other stake holders Technical, safety and operational aspects

all addressed Information promulgation – traditional

methods plus 8.33 User Guide and web site

8. EUROCONTROL Project Management - 28. EUROCONTROL Project Management - 2

Measuring the rate of equipage Direct and indirect methods CFMU role essential

Procedures for keeping the 8.33 kHz airspace clean of unequipped aircraft

Catching the cheaters – firm approach Help from CFMU – as good as they

come…. BUT! Other internal differences successfully

overcome

9. Impact on the airspace users9. Impact on the airspace users

10.000+ aircraft equipped Is there a business case for 8.33

kHz? Quantifying benefits very difficult

What do we get for this massive investment (+/-$ 390m)?

10. Spectrum benefits10. Spectrum benefits

39 new channels created due to 8.33 kHz 113 channels are now using 8.33

frequencies 74 of these already existed in 25 kHz opportunity for additional 40 channels

Less time & effort to allocate new channels overlaps in 25 kHz environment meant that

new channels only supported by “shifting” ICAO FMG unable to satisfy demand prior

to 8.33 25 kHz spectrum freed

11. Operational benefits 11. Operational benefits

8.33 kHz is an enabler for timely operational improvements Re-sectorization: France, Germany,

Switzerland, Maastricht Airspace reorganisation in support of

RVSM & other initiatives Spare frequencies to overcome

interference: France Lower airspace services (supported by

freed 25 kHz spectrum)

12. Issues remaining (but being addressed)12. Issues remaining (but being addressed)

States must act on frequency management requests 25 to 8.33 conversion is not always

straightforward (carrier offset/levels/coupling, etc)

New channel is of no use if there is a lack of controllers

Radio control panel (6 digits) Phraseology More transparency is needed of how new

channels are being used

13. The Future - 113. The Future - 1

Horizontal Expansion 8.33 kHz channel-spacing horizontal

expansion requires the co-ordinated removal of exemptions from 21 States on 31 October 2002.

8.33 kHz will be progressively implemented after 31 October 2002

Enables homogeneous area of operations for aircraft carriage

Introduction of 8.33 kHz in the OPC band?

8.33 Expansion - Simulation Results8.33 Expansion - Simulation Results

Effect of expansions on the Percentage of Satisfied needs Vs Demand for Current 8.33 States

-

20

40

60

80

100

120

Supp

ly/D

eman

d (%

)

Satisfaction %withoutHorizontalExpansion

Satisfaction %with HorizontalExpansion(Oct 2002)

Satisfaction %with CombinedHorizontal andVerticalExpansions

14. The Future -214. The Future -2

Vertical expansion? One more interim measure… Additional aircraft population

involved is very large and diverse Is it worth it…?

Time for a quantum leap? EUROCONTROL’s Wide Band

initiative

15. The Future - 315. The Future - 3

We need a thick pipe between the ground and the air, to exchange information

The cockpit is no longer the only place in the aircraft that has to communicate…

Combine and save?

16. The Future - 416. The Future - 4

A possible way ahead: Maximize the benefits from 8.33

horizontal expansion and other means to ensure that we get sufficient spectrum capacity until new technology kicks in

Accelerate decision on, and development of, new communications technology and implement as soon as possible

17. Quantum leap? 17. Quantum leap?

Compare even the most modern VHF radio and the method of communicating with it to the advances made in the rest of the cockpit…

QUANTUM LEAP OR JUST CATCHING UP????