International Air Transport Association 8.33 KHz Channel Spacing – Status, Lessons Learned and a Glimpse to the Future by Steve Zerkowitz Assistant Director Operations and Infrastructure - Europe

1. 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?  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 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?  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- 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- 2  More recently…. ENPRM EUROCONTROL High Level Communications Group

7. 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 - 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 users  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 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  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)  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 - 1  Horizontal Expansion 8.33 kHz channel-spacing horizontal expansion requires the co-ordinated removal of exemptions from 21 States on 31 October 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 Results

14. 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 - 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 - 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?  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????