The present document specifies certain minimum technical performance requirements of Aircraft Earth Station (AES) equipment with both transmit and receive capabilities for provision of aeronautical mobile satellite service, in the frequency bands given in table 1.
Table 1: Frequency bands for the AES equipment specified in the present document
Mode of Operation; Frequency Band
AES transmit; 14,00 GHz to 14,50 GHz
AES transmit; 12,75 GHz to 13,25 GHz
AES receive; 10,70 GHz to 12,75 GHz
The AES has the following characteristics:
• These AESs are equipment for installation on aircraft.
• The AESs transmit in the 14,00 GHz to 14,50 GHz band receive within the range from 10,70 GHz to 12,75 GHz ("14 GHz"), referred to as "14 GHz AES" in the present document, are operating in one or more frequency ranges of the Fixed-Satellite Service and Mobile-Satellite Service.
• The AESs transmit in the 12,75 GHz to 13,25 GHz band receive within the range from 10,70 GHz to12,75 GHz ("13 GHz"), referred to as "13 GHz AES" in the present document, are operating in one or more frequency ranges of the Fixed-Satellite Service.
NOTE 1: When the term "AES" used in the present document without stating 13 GHz AES or 14 GHz AES, it is a reference to both 14 GHz AES and 13 GHz AES.
• The AES could consist of a number of modules from the antenna subsystem to the user interfaces.
• The AES uses linear polarization.
• The AES system uses digital modulation.
• The 14 GHz AES operates through a GSO satellite at least 3° away from any other geostationary satellite operating in the same frequency band and covering the same area.
• The 13 GHz AES operates with a GSO satellite network whose frequency assignments are from the List of Appendix 30B of the Radio Regulations.
• The antenna of the AES is directional, with means of tracking the satellites, which can be achieved by using either an active phase array or reflective type configuration.
• These AESs are operating as part of a satellite network used for the distribution and/or exchange of information between users.
• These AESs are controlled and monitored by a Network Control Facility (NCF). The NCF is outside the scope of the present document.
• When on the ground, the 14 GHz AES does not transmit at elevation angles below 7° with respect to the local horizontal plane, except at locations where transmissions below 7° are permitted by the local Administration; (the minimum elevation angle is also limited as per clause 4.2).
The technical requirements in the present document are in two major categories:
• emission limits: to protect other radio services and systems from harmful interference generated by the AES in normal use;
• AES Control and Monitoring Functions (CMFs): to protect other radio services and systems from unwanted transmissions from the AES. The CMF in each AES is capable of answering to commands from the Network Control Facility (NCF) for its supporting satellite network.
The present document applies to the AESs with their ancillary equipment and its various ports, and when operated within the boundary limits of the operational environmental profile specified by the manufacturer.
The technical requirements for the 14 GHz AES in regard to the Power Flux Density (PFD) limits to protect Fixed Service (FS) and Radio Astronomy Service (RAS) are based on annexes B and C of Recommendation ITU-R M.1643 and ECC Report 26. Furthermore, in relation to the protection of the Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) the technical requirements of the AES take into account annex A of Recommendation ITU-R M.1643.
The technical requirements for the 13 GHz AES in regards to the PFD limits on earth for the protection of FS are based on the ECC Decision (19)04.
The present document is intended to cover the provisions of Directive 2014/53/EU (RE Directive) article 3.2, which states that "… radio equipment shall be so constructed that it both effectively and supports the use of radio spectrum allocated in order to avoid harmful interference".
NOTE 2: The relationship between the present document and essential requirements of article 3.2 of Directive 2014/53/EU is given in annex A.
In addition to the present document, other ENs that specify technical requirements in respect of essential requirements of other parts of article 3 of the RE Directive may apply to equipment within the scope of the present document.
NOTE 3: A list of such ENs is included on the web site at: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/europeanstandards/harmonised-standards/red_en.
The present document does not cover equipment compliance with relevant civil aviation regulations. In this respect, an AES, for its installation and operation on board an aircraft is subject to additional national or international civil aviation airworthiness certification requirements, for example to EUROCAE ED-14.
