Radio spectrum for global flight tracking

An agreement has been reached at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-15) in Geneva, which will run until 27 November, on the allocation of radiofrequency spectrum for global flight tracking in civil aviation.

This agreement follows the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370 in March 2014 with 239 people on board, which spurred worldwide discussions on global flight tracking and the need for coordinated action by ITU and other relevant organisations.

“In reaching this agreement at WRC-15, ITU has responded in record time to the expectations of the global community on the major issue concerning global flight tracking,” said ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao.

The frequency band 1087.7–1092.3 MHz has been allocated to the aeronautical mobile-satellite service (Earth-to-space) for reception by space stations of automatic dependent surveillance – broadcast (ADS-B) emissions from aircraft transmitters.

This frequency band is currently being used for the transmission of ADS-B signals from aircraft to terrestrial stations within line-of-sight.

The WRC-15 has now allocated this frequency band in the Earth-to-space direction to enable transmissions from aircraft to satellites, which extends ADS-B signals beyond line-of-sight to facilitate reporting the position of aircraft equipped with ADS-B anywhere in the world, including oceanic, polar and other remote areas.

WRC-15 recognised that as the standards and recommended practices for systems enabling position determination and tracking of aircraft are developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the performance criteria for satellite reception of ADS-B signals will also need to be addressed by ICAO.

“The allocation of frequencies for reception of ADS-B signals from aircraft by space stations will enable real-time tracking of aircraft anywhere in the world,” said François Rancy, director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.

“We will continue to work with ICAO and other international organisations to enhance safety in the skies.”

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