Partial Report from the Information and Communications Council concerning “Technical Requirements for Radio Equipment of VHF-band Aeronautical Radio Telephones

1.Background

  Aeronautical radiocommunications are utilized effectively as an essential means of communications in order to ensure safe operation of aircrafts.
  VHF-band aeronautical radio telephones using frequencies from 117.975MHz to 137MHz have been used as an important means of communications linking aircrafts to the ground as well as linking an aircraft to other aircrafts. However, its use is limited to allocation systems whose channel interval is 25kHz in Japan.
  On the other hand, frequencies are becoming scarce as there is an increasing demand for communications via VHF-band aeronautical radio telephones due to the increase in the traffic of aircrafts flying over Japan in recent years.
  For these reasons, it is required to further increase channels by introducing narrowband systems at the 8.33kHz channel interval provided for in Annex No.10 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation*, etc.
  In view of these circumstances, technical requirements for radio equipment of VHF-band aeronautical radio telephones have been deliberated and the MIC received a partial report from the Information and Communications Council on April 25, 2012.

  *The Convention on International Civil Aviation is aimed at safety and organized development of international civil aviation and sound and economical management of international air transport services. The Annexes of this Convention stipulate the international standards and recommendations for international air transport and the Annex No.10 provides for aeronautical communications.
 

2.Future plans

  The MIC will consolidate related provisions based on this partial report.
 

Related reports and documents

- Commencement of deliberations on “technical requirements for radio equipment of VHF-band aeronautical radio telephones” (November 25, 2011)
- Hearing of opinions on “technical requirements for radio equipment of VHF-band aeronautical radio telephones” from relevant persons (December 5, 2011)
- Appeal for opinions on draft report from the Aviation and Maritime Radiocommunication Subcommittee (January 26, 2012)
- Results of appeal for opinions on draft report from the Aviation and Maritime Radiocommunication Subcommittee (March 16, 2012)