Steve Zaidman, AAF-1George Sakai, ASR-1

Federal Aviation AdministrationWashington, DC

September 16, 2003 There are no benefits to compromising safety…only dire

consequences

Assessment of Radio Spectrum Depletion onATC Voice Communications

2

Objective

To determine the availability of frequencies to meet the FAA’s

spectrum requirements until 2015

3

Methodology• How many new en-route sectors can be

accommodated in today’s environment at all 20 centers…• Without implementation of 23 Initiatives?• With the implementation of some Initiatives?• With optimization?

• How many new terminal requirements can be supported at 4 major OEP airports…• Without implementation of 23 Initiatives?• With the implementation of some Initiatives?• With optimization?

4

Spectrum Depletion Analysis(Without Implementation of 23 Initiatives)

ZAU41 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZDC20 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZID96 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZNY86 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZOB45 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZTL02 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZAB65 M134.025 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZJX11 M120.975 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZKC97 M135.650 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZMA67 M135.900 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZME21 M124.975 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZHU81 M135.275 M133.825 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZMP28 M127.675 M133.275 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZOA36 M132.825 M125.825 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZDV30 M119.975 M125.825 M125.125 M134.200 --- --- --- --- ---ZLA35 M118.175 M132.975 M125.975 M134.175 --- --- --- --- ---ZSE07 M119.675 M124.175 M120.450 M121.075 M134.650 M127.025 --- --- ---ZBW02 M123.675 M134.075 M126.625 M127.875 M128.625 M121.375 M125.425 --- ---ZFW86 M124.325 M126.075 M125.225 M120.575 M127.275 M128.625 --- --- ---ZLC15 M120.875 M124.850 M124.275 M123.775 M121.400 M133.700 M128.525 M125.525 M132.925

ZAU41 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZDC20 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZID96 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZNY86 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZOB45 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZTL02 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZAB65 M134.025 M119.625 M126.975 M135.775 ---- --- --- --- ---ZJX11 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZKC97 M135.650 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZMA67 M120.475 M125.450 M124.100 M133.425 M127.975 ----ZME21 M124.975 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZHU81 M128.625 M135.275 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZMP28 M127.675 M133.275 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZOA36 M127.750 M125.550 M125.050 M119.425 M124.525 M126.475 M128.525ZDV30 M126.350 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZLA35 M118.175 M134.175 M132.975 M121.025 M125.375 M125.975 --- --- ---ZSE07 M124.175 M125.425 M126.450 M119.725 M120.450 M121.275 M124.875 --- ---ZBW02 M124.825 M118.925 M127.525 M123.675 M126.625 M132.825 M134.225 --- ---ZFW86 M121.225 M120.575 M124.525 M126.075 M133.375 ---- --- --- ---ZLC15 M121.050 M128.525 M134.375 M124.275 M125.825 ---- ---- ---- ---

HIG

H (

FL

>=

24

0,

<=

32

9)

Ru

n 7

Ru

n 8

Ru

n 9

TOTALS 47

TOTALS 53

Ru

n 5

Ru

n 6

SU

PE

R-H

IGH

(F

L >

= 3

30

)

Spectrum Availability Prior to 23 Initiatives

Ru

n 1

Ru

n 2

Sector ID

Ru

n 3

Ru

n 4

5

  Spectrum Depletion Analysis – Con’t(Without Implementation of 23 Initiatives)

ZAU41 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZDC20 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZID96 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZNY86 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZOB45 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZTL02 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZAB65 M134.025 M119.625 M127.500 M133.575 M134.625 M135.775 --- --- ---ZJX11 ---- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZKC97 M135.650 M133.375 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZMA67 M120.275 M120.775 M124.100 M125.675 M127.825 M132.025 M133.425 --- ---ZME21 M124.975 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZHU81 M128.625 M120.575 M125.525 M126.275 M135.275 --- --- --- ---ZMP28 M127.675 M133.275 --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZOA36 M127.750 M119.425 M125.050 M125.550 M126.100 M127.075 --- --- ---ZDV30 M126.350 M121.400 M124.725 M125.875 M127.100 --- --- --- ---ZLA35 M118.175 M118.825 M119.600 M121.325 M125.375 M125.975 M132.300 --- ---ZSE07 M124.175 M119.725 M120.450 M121.275 M123.875 M124.625 M125.575 M126.150 ---ZBW02 M124.825 M118.925 M120.750 M123.675 M126.825 M127.525 M132.825 --- ---ZFW86 M121.225 M120.575 M124.575 M133.350 --- --- --- --- ---ZLC15 M121.050 M124.925 M125.850 M126.625 M128.475 M132.925 M133.775 M134.375 ---

JFK --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

ORD --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

ATL --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

DFW --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

Sector ID

Ru

n 3

Ru

n 4

Spectrum Availability Prior to 23 Initiatives

Ru

n 1

Ru

n 2

Ru

n 5

Ru

n 6

LO

W (

FL

= 0

00

, <

= 2

39

)

Ru

n 7

Ru

n 8

Ru

n 9

TOTALS 68

TOTALS 0

TE

RM

INA

L

6

Spectrum Depletion Analysis – Con’t(With Implementation of Some Initiatives)

135.85 135.95 123.575

ZAU41 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- --- ---ZDC20 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- --- ---ZID96 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y Y --- ---ZNY86 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZOB45 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZTL02 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZAB65 M118.925 M128.125 M127.075 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- *--- *--- 9 24ZJX11 M121.875 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- 3 3ZKC97 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- --- ---ZMA67 M120.275 M120.875 M121.075 M124.925 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 8 10ZME21 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---ZHU81 M126.325 M123.925 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 6ZMP28 M133.275 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 3 3ZOA36 M118.125 M124.975 M121.325 M125.825 M127.725 M124.375 M134.700 M123.625 --- --- Y --- --- 6 25ZDV30 M120.975 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- 4ZLA35 M132.300 M120.425 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 12 24ZSE07 M125.275 M126.075 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 20 25ZBW02 M120.675 M127.275 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- 7ZFW86 M127.875 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- 7 12ZLC15 M126.525 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- --- 25

5 (6) 3 (5) 1 (3) 68 168

ZAU41 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y ---- --- --- ---ZDC20 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- Y --- --- ---ZID96 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- Y --- ---ZNY86 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- ---- --- --- ---ZOB45 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- --- --- ---ZTL02 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- --- --- ---ZAB65 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *---- *---- Y 6 10ZJX11 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- --- --- ---ZKC97 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- Y --- --- ---ZMA67 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- *---- --- --- 6ZME21 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- --- --- ---ZHU81 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *---- ---- Y --- 3ZMP28 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- --- 1 3ZOA36 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y ---- --- 4 10ZDV30 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- --- --- 10ZLA35 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- Y --- 9 10ZSE07 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---- ---- --- 10 10ZBW02 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y ---- --- --- 2ZFW86 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y ---- --- --- 1ZLC15 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y ---- Y --- 10

5 (8) 3 (5) 4 30 75

Additional Optimization & 23 Initiatives

Flight Inspection Frequencies

AFTRCC Freq****Sector

ID

Ru

n 6

Ru

n 7 w/o

Intermod. Criteria

w/o Air-Show or

Fire-Fighting

SU

PE

R-H

IGH

(F

L >

= 3

30

)

Ru

n 4

Ru

n 5

Spectrum Availability With Some of the 23 Initiatives

Ru

n 8

Ru

n 9

Ru

n 1

0

Ru

n 1

Ru

n 2

Ru

n 3

Add'l Freq. Runs

TOTALS 28

TOTALS 0

HIG

H (

FL

>=

24

0,

<=

32

9)

Notes: *--- indicates that the frequency can be assigned if inter-modulation problems are resolved Values in ( ) indicate the total number of potential assignments, including *---

7

Spectrum Depletion Analysis - Con’t(With Implementation of Some Initiatives)

135.85 135.95 123.575

ZAU41 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- Y --- ---ZDC20 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- ---ZID96 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- --- ---ZNY86 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- *--- --- ---ZOB45 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- ---ZTL02 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- --- ---ZAB65 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- *--- Y 4 12ZJX11 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- 2ZKC97 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- 2 2ZMA67 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- 3 11ZME21 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 1 1ZHU81 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y *--- --- 5ZMP28 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 3 3ZOA36 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y 8 28ZDV30 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- --- 9 13ZLA35 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y *--- --- 20 30ZSE07 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 30 30ZBW02 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- 8 13ZFW86 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Y --- --- 4 4ZLC15 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- Y 4 30

3 (6) 4 (10) 5 (8) 65 179

JFK --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 1

ORD --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- --- --- ---

ATL --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 2

DFW --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *--- --- 60 (1) 0 0 (1) 0 9TOTALS 0

TE

RM

INA

L

TOTALS 0

Add'l Freq. Runs

LO

W (

FL

= 0

00

, <

= 2

39

)

Ru

n 1

0

Ru

n 1

Ru

n 2

Ru

n 3

Ru

n 4

Ru

n 5

Spectrum Availability With Some of the 23 Initiatives

Ru

n 8

Ru

n 9

Additional Optimization & 23 Initiatives

Flight Inspection Frequencies

AFTRCC Freq****Sector

ID

Ru

n 6

Ru

n 7 w/o

Intermod. Criteria

w/o Air-Show or

Fire-Fighting

Notes: *--- indicates that the frequency can be assigned if inter-modulation problems are resolved Values in ( ) indicate the total number of potential assignments, including *---

8

Spectrum Depletion Analysis - Con’t(With Optimization)

• En-route: To support 1 additional high sector requirement for ZNY, the following re-tunes to the existing environment are required

• Terminal: To support 1 additional departure/arrival requirement at JFK, the following re-tunes to the existing environment are required

9

Spectrum Depletion Analysis Summary• Without Optimization of Existing Environment

• En-route: No channels available for Super High, High, and Low sectors in ZAU, ZDC, ZID, ZNY, ZOB, and ZTL

• Terminal: No channels available for JFK, ATL, ORD, and DFW

• With Optimization of Existing Environment• Provides the potential ability to satisfy additional requirements

• Examples• En-route: 6 existing facilities need to be re-tuned to accommodate 1 new

high enroute sector in ZNY• Terminal: 5 existing facilities need to be re-tuned to accommodate 1 new

departure/arrival requirement at JFK

10

What We Can Support until 2015• En-route

• Without Optimization• Accommodate up to 3 new Super High, High, or Low en-route sector requirements

for the Eastern-half of the US (provided that 2 flight-inspection channels are moved above 136 MHz and a frequency “swap” with AFTRCC is accomplished)

• If all commercial and business aircraft are equipped with 760 channel radios, up to 30 additional new Super High, High, or Low en-route sector requirements in the US can be accommodated

• With Optimization• May be able to satisfy additional requirements (approx. 3-5) in the Eastern-half of

the US, however, it would be difficult and costly

• Terminal• Without Optimization

• No frequencies currently available for the 4 OEP airports used in the study. Other OEP airports will likely have similar or limited number of available channels.

• With Optimization• Additional requirements (2-3 per OEP airport in congested areas) may be satisfied

11

What Needs to be Done if NEXCOM IOCis Delayed Until 2015

• Restrict Air-Traffic operational requirements (e.g. National Airspace Re-Design)

• Obtain funding to complete the following:• Procure maintenance radios for AF technicians (frees-up 2 flight inspection

frequencies below 136 MHz)• Move users above 136 MHz (Treasury, Customs, AFTRCC, etc.)• Procure equipment for increased co-site interference mitigation• “Optimize” the VHF spectrum in congested areas• Procure equipment and resources for more selective keying (frees up approx.

113 frequency assignments)• Procure equipment and resources for 6 kHz “off-set” carrier frequency use

• Require all commercial and business aircraft to upgrade to 760 channel radios (This will require rule-making)

• Air-Traffic needs to complete Phase II of the AT frequency audit

12

BackgroundInformation

13

Problem: Limited VHF Resource FAA DoD

Other Federal Non-Federal

54-72 MHz TVChannels 2,3,4

76-88 MHz TVChannels 5,6

88-108MHz FMBroadcast

118 MHz 122 MHz124 MHz 129 MHz

132 MHz

136.0MHz

137.0 MHz

VOR / ILS

108 MHz

ATCVoice

ATCVoice

AOC VoiceACARS

ATCVoice

NAV108-117.975 MHz

COMM.117.975 MHz-137.0 MHz

ATC ATC ATC

Oth

er

AOC AO

C

136.5 MHz

108-137 MHz VHFNav and Comm

108-137 MHz VHFNav and Comm

14

ATIS/AWOS/ASOS15.3%

Current VHF Spectrum Utilization

AOC 19.5%

Others 10%

ATS 70.5%

EnRoute25.3%

Terminal40.2%

Channel UsageAir Traffic Services Usage

All Others 12.5%

Search & Rescue 6.7%(121.5 MHz, 123.1 MHz)

Total Number of Channels Available (118-137 MHz): 760 Total Channels Available for ATC: 535** Number of channels include those channels made available from implemented VHF initiatives to date.

15

U. S. Growth of ATC Frequency AssignmentsN

um

ber

of

VH

F A

ssig

nm

ents

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 0201

Average increase in number of channel assignments per year = 307

16

This Leads to VHF Congestion

• Increasingly difficult to satisfy ATC requirements in some parts of the country• New York

• Washington D.C.

• Chicago

• Cleveland

• Atlanta

• New spectrum requirements continue to grow -- additional sectors, runways, FIS, AWOS/ASOS, etc.

17

P ro b lem : L im ited A b ility to R e -u se F req u en c ie sH ig h E n R o u te

. ..

th is fre q u e n c y m a y b e u se da m a x im u m o f 5 tim e s

18

VHF 23 Initiatives• Developed to obtain additional spectrum

resources or to make available current spectrum resources through various proposals

Regulatory Technical Administrative

19

VHF 23 Initiatives(Regulatory Proposals)

Review FCC frequency utilization plan and investigate the use of UNICOM and other FCC aeronautical frequencies for ATC

Investigate the possibility of using FSS channels for ATC, including the frequencies 123.6 through 123.65 MHz

Review fire-fighting frequency assignment policyReview policy for AWOS and ASOS frequency useReview air show frequency policy

20

VHF 23 Initiatives(Technical Proposals)

Investigate use of part of 121.5 MHz guard band for ATC channels

Investigate use of the band 136-137 MHz Investigate use of existing communications air/ground radios

on VOR frequencies for AWOS and ASOS (broadcast only) Investigate offset operation (+/- 6 to 10 kHz off-tuned from the

primary frequency) for high altitude use Investigate lowering ground control transmit antennas Investigate advantages of optimizing equipment location Investigate co-site mitigation techniques, for example, new

technologies such as active interference cancellers, and testing to determine use of lower transmit powers

21

VHF 23 Initiatives(Administrative Proposals)

Conduct Air Traffic audit of ATC frequencies Investigate alternate frequencies for flight check Investigate use of law enforcement channels Review operational coverage requirements for communications

facilities Review ground control sub-band Review use of two VHF DoD common channels Modify FAA data base to accept additional data which would allow

tighter “packing” of frequencies Improve coordination with ARINC on their VHF frequency usage Investigate increased use of select keying and voting systems Re-use ground control frequencies at high altitude (“vertical

separation”) Review use of high-gain (directional) antennas