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EUROCONTROL > ATM Performance > EATM > MSA > Airborne Equipment - Requirements and Certification 

Mode S Airborne Equipment - Requirements and Certification

Promulgation of Obligatory Airborne Equipment Requirements

 
The requirements for the carriage and operation of SSR Mode S airborne equipment in the designated airspace of the Mode S implementing States have been harmonised to the greatest extent possible.

Information on Individual States’ Mode S airborne equipment requirements and airspace access implications can be obtained from the appropriate State's Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) and Aeronautical Information Circulars (AICs). State AICs can be accessed via the following link:
  State Mode S AICs
Links to State Aeronautical Information Services, where AIPs and AICs may be obtained, are available via the Implementaiton of Mode S ELS and EHS page:
  Implementation of Mode S ELS and EHS
Alternatively, individual State authorities can be contacted via e-mail:
BELGIUM AND LUXEMBOURG - contact:
Email: 
Email: 
FRANCE – contact:
Email: 
Email: 
GERMANY – contact:
Email: 
Email: 
NETHERLANDS – contact:
Email: 
SWITZERLAND - contact:
Email: 
UNITED KINGDOM – contact for general enquiries:
Email: 
For Mode S exemption requests:
Email: 
Please take note for UK
To assist operators to decide whether an exemption for the carriage of EHS is required, the following general information may be of use:
  • From 31 March 2005 all fixed-wing aircraft operating in UK notified EHS airspace are required to be EHS compliant if operating under IFR and having a maximum take-off mass in excess of 5700 kg or having a maximum cruising true airspeed capability in excess of 250 kt.

  • Currently UK notified airspace is the vertical and lateral bounds of the London TMA, so aircraft falling in the above category are permitted to access to other UK airspace if they are ELS compliant.

  • From 31 March 2008 Mode S ELS became the minimum means of compliance with the SSR transponder regulations for the rest of the UK.

  • In certain circumstances, aircraft equipped with Mode A/C transponders prior to 31 March 2008 may make use a transition period in which to equip with Mode S. To comply with this transition period aircraft must be notified to the CAA using the form at the following link.
  Link
  • The UK continues to honour Reason 1 exemptions issued by Eurocontol (i.e. issued on the basis that the airframe is not technically capable of delivering the EHS downlinked aircraft parameters) providing the aircraft is ELS compliant.

ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs)

The Mode S ground system, airborne equipment and operational ATC procedures must conform to ICAO SARPs. These have been developed over many years and are contained in Annex 10 to the Convention, Volumes III and IV.

Certification of Mode S Airborne Equipment

To conform with ICAO SARPs, guidance for the certification of Mode S airborne equipment may be found in:
  • JAA Temporary Guidance Leaflet (TGL) 13, Revision 1 – Certification of Mode S Transponder Systems for Elementary Surveillance (ELS).

    The guidance material in this leaflet has been prepared for the installation and certification of Mode S Secondary Surveillance Radar for Elementary Surveillance.

    Note : This TGL is currently being reviewed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)and is expected to be amended and promulgated as EASA AMC (Acceptable Means of Compliance) 20-18 in the first half of 2009).
  TGL 13
  • AMC 20-13 - Certification of Mode S Transponder Systems for Enhanced Surveillance (EHS).

    This AMC has been prepared for the installation, certification and maintenance of Mode S SSR transponder systems for Enhanced Surveillance.
  AMC 20-13

Minimum Equipment List (MEL)

  • JAA Temporary Guidance Leaflet (TGL) 26 - Guidance Document for MEL Policy.

    The purpose of the Guidance Document for MEL Policy is to give operators the guidance necessary to develop the MEL provisions for equipment, and conditions for its unserviceability, in order that JAR-OPS 1 and 3 and JAR-MMEL/MEL are properly complied with. Application of this TGL should ensure a harmonisation of MELs among JAA operators and assist Authorities in the MEL evaluation and approval. However, TGL 26 is guidance material only, and should not be used to overwrite the MMEL unless specifically agreed with the operator's Authority.
  TGL 26
 
  Last validation: 03/01/2012