Scarce resources management
Access to the frequency spectrum for aviation communications, surveillance and navigation operations is becoming more challenging as increasing demands are put on what is a finite resource.
The digital age has brought with it an increasing number of systems and organisations which are all making demands on the available frequency bands.
Therefore, in order to ensure that European aviation’s existing operations remain viable and that there is room for the expected growth in traffic, scarce resources have to be carefully managed and efficiently distributed.
This is particularly vital in the following three areas:
- communications;
- surveillance;
- navigation.
Communications
Frequency management and associated services for the European ATM network are seen as critical activities.
The Agency is already performing these generic network management functions and also monitors some operational frequencies (VHF) and radio usage behaviours. It also delivers Common ICAO Data Interchange Network Management (CIDIN) services.
Surveillance
Transponder code management and associated services are provided in accordance with international obligations and high-level agreements between the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Agency.
A specific service performed on behalf of ICAO consists of the management of scarce transponder code resources through the use of the Originating Region Code Assignment Method (ORCAM), which is currently being complemented by the Centralised SSR Code Assignment and Management System (CCAMS).
Also relevant to the task are the Aircraft Identification Programme (ACID) activities and the Mode S Interrogator Codes allocation. In addition, surveillance monitoring also addresses usage of transponder frequencies and transponder operations.
Navigation
EUROCONTROL provides vital navigation-related services, including the ICAO Five-Letter Name-Code and Route Designator (ICARD) System.
The Agency also operates the RVSM Monitoring Agency (RMA) on behalf of ICAO for the European RVSM airspace, which also monitors aircraft height-keeping performance.
