eATM Portal

ITY-AGVCS2 — 8,33 kHz Air-Ground Voice Channel Spacing below FL195

This SES-type objective is derived from Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1079/2012 of 16 November 2012, amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 657/2013 of 10 July 2013, laying down requirements for voice channels spacing for the single European sky.

The Regulation applies to:
1. all radios operating in the 117,975-137 MHz band ('the VHF band') allocated to the aeronautical mobile route service, including systems, their constituents and associated procedures;
2. all flights operating as general air traffic, within the airspace of the ICAO EUR region where States are responsible for the provision of air traffic services in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 550/2004.

The conversion requirements of the Regulation do NOT apply to frequency assignments:

(a) that will remain in 25 kHz channel spacing on the following frequencies:
(i) the emergency frequency (121,5 MHz);
(ii) the auxiliary frequency for search and rescue operations (123,1 MHz);
(iii) the VHF digital link (VDL) frequencies (136,725 MHz, 136,775 MHz, 136,825 MHz, 136,875 MHz, 136,925 MHz and 136,975 MHz);
(iv) the aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) frequencies (131,525 MHz, 131,725 MHz and 131,825 MHz);

(b) where offset carrier operation within a 25 kHz channel spacing is utilised.

According to Article 14 of Regulation (EU) No 1079/2012, for cases having limited impact on the network, States may take local measures granting exemptions from compliance with:

• Article 4(5) on the obligation for all radios to have 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability by 31 December 2017 at the latest (except ground radios operated by air navigation service providers);
• Article 5(4) on the obligation for aircraft to be equipped with an 8,33 kHz-capable radio from 1 January 2018 to operate in airspace where carriage of radio is required;
• and 6(10) on the obligation to convert all frequency assignments to 8,33 kHz channel spacing by 31 December 2018 at the latest (except frequency assignments that stay in 25 kHz as a result of a safety requirement, or 25 kHz frequency assignments used to accommodate State aircraft).

However, the State shall provide the Commission with detailed information justifying the exemption at the latest one year before the dates identified in the relevant articles. Within six months of receiving the information and after consultation with the Network Manager, the Commission may review the exemption if the impact on the network is not limited.

The terms used in this objective are defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 and Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 1079/2012.

NOTE FOR MILITARY AUTHORITIES: It is the responsibility of each military authority to review this Objective IN ITS ENTIRETY and address each of the SLoAs that the military authority considers RELEVANT for itself. This has to be done on top and above of the review of "MIL" SLoAs which identify actions EXCLUSIVE to military authorities.

Edition
2022
Stakeholders
Regulator / Air Navigation Service Provider / Military / Airport Operator / Airspace Users / Network Manager
Type
SES
Scope
EU+
Status
Active

Context

Related Elements

Applicability Area(s) and Timescales

Applicability Area:
All ECAC States except: Armenia, Georgia, Maastricht UAC, Moldova, Türkiye, Ukraine
Timescales From By Applicable to
Entry into force 07-12-2012 Applicability Area
New and upgraded radio equipment 17-11-2013 Applicability Area
New or upgraded radios on State aircraft 01-01-2014 Applicability Area
Interim target for freq. conversions 31-12-2014 Applicability Area
All radio equipment 31-12-2017 Applicability Area
All frequencies converted 31-12-2018 Applicability Area
State aircraft equipped, except those notified to EC 31-12-2018 Applicability Area
State aircraft equipped, except those exempted [Art 9(11)] 31-12-2020 Applicability Area

Links to SESAR Solutions

Links to PCP ATM Sub-Functionalities

ICAO Block Modules: No associated data

References

Applicable legislation
Regulation (EU) No 1079/2012 of 16 November 2012 laying down requirements for voice channels spacing.
Applicable ICAO Annexes and other references
ICAO Annex 10;
ICAO PANS-ATM Doc. 4444.
Deployment Programme 2022
Operating Environments
Airport
Terminal Airspace
En-Route
Network

Expected Performance Benefits

Safety
-
Capacity
-
Operational efficiency
Optimisation of the use of the bandwidth, which is a prerequisite to a number of crucial operational
improvements that will deliver benefits such as reduced delays and increased capacity. Such benefits will be postponed or even impossible if the additional frequencies required are not readily available.
Cost efficiency
-
Environment
-
Security
-
  Code Title From By Related Enablers
 
REG01 Ensure radios have 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability
  • 31-12-2017
 
REG02 Ensure the achievement of the interim target for 8,33 kHz frequency conversions FINALISED
 
REG03 Ensure compliance with the requirements on 8,33 kHz frequency conversions
  • 31-12-2018
 
ASP01 Ensure conformity of voice communications systems and associated procedures
  • 31-12-2018
 
ASP02 Convert 25 kHz frequencies to 8,33 kHz to achieve the interim target FINALISED
 
ASP03 Convert all 25 kHz frequencies to 8,33 kHz
  • 31-12-2018
 
ASP04 Develop safety assessment
  • 31-12-2018
 
ASP05 Organise personnel training and awareness
  • 31-12-2018
 
MIL01 Equip State aircraft with radio equipment with 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability
  • 31-12-2020
 
MIL02 Organise personnel training and awareness of military aircrew
  • 31-12-2020
 
APO01 Convert all 25 kHz frequencies to 8,33 kHz
  • 31-12-2018
 
APO02 Accommodate non-equipped vehicles
  • 31-12-2017
 
APO03 Organise personnel training and awareness
  • 31-12-2018
 
USE01 Equip aircraft with radio equipment with 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability
  • 31-12-2017
 
USE02 Organise personnel training and awareness
  • 31-12-2017
 
NM01 Ensure the centralised flight planning processing and distribution service complies with the Regulation FINALISED
Code Dates
 
1999 99
2000 00
2001 01
2002 02
2003 03
2004 04
2005 05
2006 06
2007 07
2008 08
2009 09
2010 10
2011 11
2012 12
2013 13
2014 14
2015 15
2016 16
2017 17
2018 18
2019 19
2020 20
2021 21
2022 22
2023 23
2024 24
2025 25
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ITY-AGVCS2
 
20121207_20131117_20140101_20141231_20171231_20181231_20181231_20201231
REG01
20171231
REG02 (FINALISED)
20141231
REG03
20181231
ASP01
20181231
ASP02 (FINALISED)
20141231
ASP03
20181231
ASP04
20181231
ASP05
20181231
MIL01
20201231
MIL02
20201231
APO01
20181231
APO02
20171231
APO03
20181231
USE01
20171231
USE02
20171231
NM01 (FINALISED)
20121207

Supporting Material

Title Related SLoAs

EUROCONTROL - 8.33kHz Voice Channel Spacing (VCS) implementation handbook

https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/833khz-voice-channel-spacing-vcs-implementation-handbook

APO01, ASP01, ASP03, ASP04, REG01, REG03

EUROCONTROL - EAM 4 - ESARR 4 - Risk Assessment and Mitigation in ATM - Edition 1.0 / 04/2001

https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/esarr-4-risk-assessment-and-mitigation-atm

ASP04

EUROCONTROL - GUID-174 - EUROCONTROL Guidelines on 8.33kHz Channel Spacing for Military Operators - Edition 2.0 / 07/2018

https://www.eurocontrol.int/publication/eurocontrol-guidelines-833khz-channel-spacing-military-operators

MIL01, MIL02

ICAO - Annex 10, Volume III, Part 2 - Aeronautical Telecommunications, Volume III Communication Systems, Part 2 (incorporating Amendment No 85), Chapter 2, Sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3.1 and 2.3.2 (excluding Subsection 2.3.2.8) - Second Edition / 07/2007

http://store1.icao.int/

ASP01, MIL01, REG01, USE01

ICAO - Doc 4444 - Air Traffic Management, Section 12.3.1.4 '8,33 kHz channel spacing' - Edition 16

https://store.icao.int/

ASP01, MIL01, REG01, USE01

Consultation & Approval

Working Arrangement in charge
CNS / COM SG
Outline description approved in
Latest objective review at expert level
04/2013
Commitment Decision Body
Provisional Council (PC)
Objective approved/endorsed in
07/2013
Latest change to objective approved/endorsed in