1. ICAO Seminar on Aeronautical spectrum management (Cairo, 7 – 17 June 2006) SAFIRE Spectrum and Frequency Information Resource (presented by Eurocontrol)
European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation

2. SAFIRE Briefing Background Purpose System Overview Data Structure
User Types
Demonstration site - web address

3. SAFIRE Briefing Background
EUROCONTROL to address the need for a strong mechanism for the management, assignment and audit of the use of aviation spectrum within the airspace of ECAC States, in close co-operation with States and ICAO (MATSE/6 meeting 2000).
Fundamental to fulfilling this requirement was the need for improved spectrum and frequency information that is accessible to member States and other appropriate organisations. The quality attributes of accuracy, currency and integrity of the information being of paramount importance.
Initiation of project for the development of a Spectrum and Frequency Management System (SFMS) (2002)    
SAFIRE is a web based system used to assist with aeronautical frequency and spectrum management activities. At the heart of the system is a database that can store information relating to frequency assignments and spectrum allocations in aeronautical frequency bands.
During their MATSE/6 meeting, ECAC Ministers of Transport recognised that radio frequency spectrum is a scarce resource with finite capacity limits and for which demand is constantly increasing. They called on EUROCONTROL to address the need for a strong mechanism for the management, assignment and audit of the use of aviation spectrum within the airspace of ECAC States, in close co-operation with States and ICAO. Fundamental to fulfilling this requirement was the need for improved spectrum and frequency information that is accessible to member States and other appropriate organisations. The quality attributes of accuracy, currency and integrity of the information being of paramount importance.    
To address this it was recocognised that a spectrum and frequency mechanism be devised providing reference to current ITU and ICAO Regulatory criteria, aviation CNS strategies and be supported by various tools in order to assist in the efficient use of available spectrum in the European Region. It must also provide the means for Stakeholders to publish electronically their assignment information on a centrally managed system and at the same time enable access to relevant information for their own planning purposes. The initiation of the original SFMS development was driven by the following objective:-
To deliver:-
an accurate description of current frequency usage;
a centralised database with appropriate security and confidentiality access levels;
frequency usage analyses for every frequency band (in short, mid and long term);
access to technical analyses and studies

4. SAFIRE Briefing Background
The initiation of the original SFMS development was driven by the following objective ,
To deliver:-
an accurate description of current frequency assignment and their operational usage;
a centralised database with appropriate security and confidentiality access levels;
frequency usage analyses for every frequency band;
access to technical analyses and aviation spectrum related studies

5. SAFIRE Briefing Current frequency management situation
Frequency assignment data is held in national data bases / files, documentation;
Individual responsibility to track changes and maintain national data bases from the official register;
COM tables are published by ICAO, manual data entry;
COM table coordination of assignment proposals is by use of messages over AFTN;
VHF channel congestion in parts of Europe requires up to date knowledge of assignments to assist finding frequencies, manage shifts etc.

6. SAFIRE Briefing Purpose
All aviation frequency assignments – centralised database;
Assist Frequency Planning – proposal coordination tool
Provide a history of assignments;
Monitoring of frequency usage – e.g. congestion markers for short, mid & long term, support for:-
Frequency demand models;
Planning simulations.
User access controls;
Spectrum Area;
Documentation, analysis results
Meeting coordination
Criteria reference
Note : Responsibility for the accuracy of the data content of the frequency assignments is with the State authority.
SAFIRE uses a web based interface having separate access levels for the frequency and spectrum areas. The frequency management area has further access limitations according to user application requirements. The State authorised frequency manager has the roll for read and write.
Note : Responsibility for the accuracy of the data content of the frequency assignments is with the State authority.

7. SAFIRE Briefing System
Central Database tables
Frequency assignments
User configuration
Spectrum information
USERS
Internet Connection
Frequency planner
User access level
E mail accounts
Frequency Planning software
Internet server
SAFIRE

8. SAFIRE Briefing Data structure
Based on format descriptions given in the ITU – R 1370 And 1413 documents;
There are some data differences such as in the coverage volume descriptions due to ITU reference being ground based;
Data elements are referenced by facility location, facility type. Optional station equipment detail is also possible.
The frequency data table structure is based on the ITU-R model which provides a storage capability for a comprehensive range of detail for frequency assignments, not all of which is necessary for every service application.
Note that the ITU model is aimed at ground based stations, consequently there has had to be an aviation approach to the some aspects in particular the coverage description utilised by airspace operations.

9. SAFIRE Briefing User Access levels
State Authorising person (SAP)
SAFIRE Administrator
State Frequency Managers
State read access
Special role
ICAO (publication of COM tables)
Eurocontrol (OPC frequency allocation)
Capability to address new roles
ICAO has the specialised role as the publication of the State information, it can also be involved in the coordination process if delegated by the State authority.
Eurocontrol provides a specialised role in the IATA OPC frequency advisory service
New roles can be created for other activities as required.

10. SAFIRE Briefing Frequency Management Process
Select data from
SAFIRE
Logon to
SAFIRE
Action ?
Find frequency
Compatibility
check
Planning Software e.g. MANIF
Frequency OK?
Create Proposal for
Coordination In SAFIRE
Logon to
SAFIRE
Registration of
assignment
In SAFIRE

11. SAFIRE Briefing Project Development
System Functional Requirements
Have been implemented by provision of:-
access levels
allocation information
web links to spectrum information
message board facility
data tables based on ITU RDD
proposals, co-ordination messages and distribution lists
Specified database queries
regular data sampling
report generation
database functions – export, comparison, backup and archive
User accounts
Spectrum data
Spectrum links
User information exchange
Assignment management
Frequency management
Query Management
Monitoring
Reporting
Database management

12. SAFIRE Briefing Project status
Current development has been completed;
Current deployment is now taking place as an operational evaluation phase for COM 2 table information;
Requires establishing the formal frequency Manager accounts;
Upload of the latest current COM 2 table data.
COM3 and 4 data population to follow after finalising aspects of the data structure and approach to “cleaning” of existing tables.

13. SAFIRE Briefing Demonstration internet site
From here you can;
log in
register
select functionality
SAFIRE can currently available be viewed at the following:-
Click the “START SAFIRE APPLICATION” link.
From here you can;
log in
register
select system functionality from menu