Appeal for Opinions on Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of the Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment

1.Background of revision, etc.

  Aeronautical radio communications have been utilized effectively as an essential means of communication in order to ensure safe operation of aircrafts. VHF-band aeronautical radio telephones using VHF frequencies have been used as an important communication tool linking aircrafts to the ground as well as linking an aircraft to other aircrafts. However, its use has been limited to allocation systems whose frequency 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 along with 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 frequency 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 compiled by the Information and Communications Council and related provisions will be improved toward its introduction.

  *The Convention on International Civil Aviation aims at safe 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 Annex No.10 provides for aeronautical communications.
 

2.Outline of revision

  (1) Addition of technical requirements for radio equipment of VHF-band aeronautical radio telephones
  (2) Improvement of other related provisions
 

3.Guidelines for appeal for opinions

  (1) Subject of appeal for opinions Draft Ministerial Ordinance for Partial Revision of the Ordinance Regulating Radio Equipment (Radio Regulatory Commission Rules No. 18 of 1950) Draft Public Notice for Partial Revision of Subject Prescribing Conditions, etc. for Pass of Type Approval of Radio Equipment Installed in Aircrafts (Public Notice of MIC No.1094 of 2005)
  (2) Deadline for appeal for opinions July 4 (Wed), 2012, 17:00PM (submission of opinions by mail must also arrive by this date)
  (3) Guidelines for appeal for opinions The draft revision will be distributed at counters of contact and also posted in the column of “press release” on the MIC website (http://www.soumu.go.jp) and the column of “public comments” on the e-government portal (e-Gov) (http://www.e-gov.go.jp).
 

4.Future plans