1. Update on WRC-12 Issues Impacting Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) ITU-R Working Party 5B and Future Regulatory Considerations
Joe Cramer
September 2010

2. Agenda AVSI and WAIC Importance of WAIC
WRC-12 Agenda Items Impacting WAIC
AI 1.11
AI 1.12
ITU-R Working Party 5B Update
Issues Discussed and Documents
Potential Future WRC Agenda Item
ICAO and Future Course of Action
ICAO and ITU-R Support

3. AVSI and WAIC What is the Aerospace Vehicle Systems Institute (AVSI)
Aerospace Vehicle System Institute - A cooperative of companies, academia and government agencies. Members include Airbus, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier, Embraer, Goodrich, Gulfstream, GE Aviation, Honeywell, NASA, United Technologies.
Focus on developing improved aerospace vehicles.
Creates an environment for collaboration on research and development projects; investigates emerging technologies; and influences standards and policies to promote cost effective systems development and certification.
What is Wireless Avionics Intra Communications (WAIC)
Radiocommunication between two or more points on a single aircraft.
Includes integrated wireless components and/or installed components.
Part of a closed, exclusive network required for operation of the aircraft.
Does not provide air-to-ground, air to satellite, or air-to-air communications.
Only safety related applications are being contemplated.

4. WAIC Technical Characteristics
WAIC is based on short range radio technology (< 100m)
WAIC operates with low transmission power (< 10 mW)
Main application area is internal, within fuselage/cabin
External transmission via directive antennas (e.g. landing gear, wings)
WAIC is to be classified as AM(R)S because: (cf. RR Article 1.33)
communication in WAIC systems takes place between aircraft stations
communication in WAIC systems is related to safety and regularity of flight
WAIC systems will be installed primarily onboard civil aircraft operated along national or international civil air routes

5. Importance of WAIC to Aviation Industry
Environmental Benefits
Less wiring will reduce aircraft weight, enabling less fuel burn.
Increased Reliability
Fewer connector pins/failures, cracked insulation, & broken conductors
Mesh networks could provide redundancy
Safety Improvements:
Wireless links can provide redundancy
Reduce amount of aging wiring and associated malfunction issues
fewer connector pins/failures, lower risk of cracked insulation & broken conductors

6. Importance of WAIC to the Aviation Industry
Operational Efficiency Improvements
Ability to obtain more data from aircraft surfaces
Easier and more reliable access to maintenance data, particularly for rotating and moving parts (e.g. wheel wells, actuators, etc.)
Less wire maintenance to remediate chafing conditions
Simplify and reduce life-cycle cost of airplane wiring
Reduced weight should save fuel costs

7. Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC)
Communications between Aircraft and Ground
Satellite Communication
Communications between aircraft
Airport
Satellite
PAX Connectivity
Scope of WAIC
External
Internal
Mobile Phone
Live-IP
Radio, TV, IFE
Machine
-to-
Cabin Crew
Flight Deck Crew
Cabin Control
Sensors
Structural sensors
Cargo data
Cabin crew voice/data
Flight deck crew voice/data
Video surveillance
September 2010

8. Examples of Potential WAIC Applications
Low Data Rate, Interior Applications:
Sensors: Cabin Pressure - Smoke Detection - Fuel Tank/Line - Proximity Temperature - EMI Incident Detection - Structural Health Monitoring - Humidity/Corrosion Detection
Controls: Emergency Lighting - Cabin Functions
Low Data Rate, Outside Applications:
Sensors: Ice Detection - Landing Gear Position Feedback - Brake Temperature - Tire Pressure - Wheel Speed - Steering Feedback - Flight Controls Position Feedback - Door Proximity - Engine Sensors - Cargo Compartment - Structural Sensors
High Data Rate, Interior Applications:
Sensors: Air Data - Engine Prognostic - Flight Deck/Cabin Crew Still Imagery / Video
Comm.: Avionics Communications Bus - FADEC Aircraft Interface - Flight Deck/Cabin Crew Audio / Video (safety-related) - Flight -Operations related Digital Data (e.g. EFOS…)
High Data Rate, Outside Applications:
Sensors: Structural Health Monitoring - Imaging Sensors (Still and Video)
Controls: Active Vibration Control
Comm.: Avionics Communications Bus

9. WRC-12 Agenda Items Impacting WAIC
Seeks to determine if the aeronautical mobile service should not be permitted in the GHz band
No current aviation systems in this band.
Until 2008, no aviation systems were considered in this band.
However, WAIC might be able to use this band
ICAO Position
To oppose excluding aeronautical use of the existing mobile service allocation in the band GHz. To support the use of technical protection limits to ensure that any future AMS system in the band GHz will be compatible with other co-primary services.

10. WRC-12 Agenda Items Impacting WAIC
CITEL Draft Position – Consistent with ICAO Position
CEPT Position – Eliminate Aeronautical Mobile Service
APT Position – Support the sharing studies
ASMG Position – Support sharing studies & eliminate AMS if studies show sharing is not possible
ATU Position – TBD
Aerospace Industry wants to protect Space Research Service
Not likely that Fixed applications will intersect with aircraft.
WP 5B provided preliminary technical information to WP 7B and to 5C (responsible groups)
WP 5B asked 7B if any WAIC classifications are acceptable.
No response

11. WRC-12 Agenda Items Impacting WAIC
Seeks to permit the Space Research Service in the GHz band.
Liaison statement to WP 7B sent that states WAIC will not consider this band.

12. ITU-R Working Party 5B - Update
WP5B is lead ITU-R Group
WAIC Draft New Report
Inputs from CEPT, US, Brazil and Canada
Technical Characteristics and Operational Objectives of WAIC Systems
Sent to Study Group 5 for approval at November Meeting

13. ICAO and Future Course of Action
Likely Future WRC Agenda Item for WAIC
Draft Proposals being circulated in US, Brazil, Germany (possibly CEPT or multi-country), and possibly Canada.
World-wide allocation(s) must be obtained
Spectrum usage must fall within ICAO Convention in order to obtain benefits for equipment certification.
No bands being proposed in Drafts

14. ICAO and ITU-R Regional Support
If an Agenda Item is approved, then support from ASMG, ATU and ICAO is required
Because WAIC will provide safety benefits, how should it be incorporated into the ITU-R Regulations?
AM(R)S?
Mobile Service with Footnote providing priority?
Other?
The Service Definition chosen for WAIC requires support
Need to consider how to meet ITU and ICAO requirements:
Obtaining AM(R)S spectrum will be extremely difficult given the fact WAIC will have to share band with incumbent service.

15. Classic AM(R)S/AMS(R)S
Ground Station
Aeronautical Mobile (Route) Service (AMS) - example:
HF Voice – ( MHz)
VHF Voice – ( MHz)
Satellite
Aeronautical Mobile Satellite Service

16. ICAO and ITU-R Regional Support
WAIC could be classified as AM(R)S - it complies with RR Article 1.33
1.83 aircraft station: A mobile station in the aeronautical mobile service, other than a survival craft station, located on board an aircraft.
A WAIC transmitter can be considered an “aircraft station” because it is located on an aircraft.
1.32 aeronautical mobile service: A mobile service between aeronautical stations and aircraft stations, or between aircraft stations, …
Communication between WAIC transmitters conforms with the requirement “between aircraft stations”.
1.33 aeronautical mobile (R)* service: An aeronautical mobile service reserved for communications relating to safety and regularity of flight, primarily along national or international civil air routes.
WAIC applications are defined as limited to safety applications.
WAIC systems will be installed onboard civil aircraft operated along national or international civil air routes