ACP 23rd Meeting of Working Group F WACAF/ESAF Brief Report

1. AERONAUTICAL COMMUNICATIONS PANEL (ACP) TWENTY THIRD MEETING OF WORKING GROUP F WACAF/ESAF BRIEF REPORT BY OMODELE AROWOLO Cairo, Egypt 21 – 27 September 2010 9/25/10

2. ICAO GLOBAL ASSIGNMENT PLANNING TOOL • Frequency Management Workshop was held in Dakar Senegal from 28 – 30 September 2009. The Meeting was convened pursuant to APIRG/16 meeting - Conclusion 16/32 held in Rubavu, Rwanda, 19-23 November 2007 The objective of the workshop is to introduce the participant to the new ICAO frequency management technique and also sensitized administrations about :-   • 1. Computer based frequency assignment planning tool for COM systems including the principles for code assignments and Mode S assignment planning criteria. • 2. Computer based frequency planning for NAV systems including identification of DMEs within range along PBN air route. 9/25/10

3. ICAO GLOBAL ASSIGNMENT PLANNING TOOL (ctd) • Computer based frequency planning for NAV systems including identification of DMEs within range along PBN air route. • Global harmonization of COMS Tables. • Updating of COM list 1,2&3, including a review of frequency assignment planning criteria for VHF COM systems. • A rapporteur was nominated (for the region) to participate in both ACP-WG-F meetings and ITU meeting in order to give feed back to the group on the activities of ACP-WG-F and ITU meetings . CONCERN DO WE NOW HAVE A FINAL VERSION OF THESE SOFTWARE SO THAT WE CAN USE IT FOR FREQUENCY ASSIGNMENT COODINATION WITH THE REGIONAL OFFICE ? 9/25/10

4. APIRG/17 (conclusion on Frequency) In the recently concluded APIRG 17 in Quagadougu Aug. 2010) Some AFI states want to charge ANSP for the Aeronautical Frequency usage • These could have a bad impact on the usage of Civil Aviation Frequency in some other states in terms of imposition of additional burden on ANSP,s • its long run impact on safety indices (avalaibility& Reliability) was highly considered : • Thereafter APIRG/17 adopted the following draft conclusion : THAT: • AFI STATES REFRAIN FROM SUBJECTING AIR NAVIGATION SERVICE PROVIDERS TO CHARGES FOR THE UTILIZATION OF AERONAUTICAL SPECTRUM FREQUENCIES.  INCLUDING AERONAUTICAL COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORTED BY VSAT STATIONS 9/25/10

5. High frequency (HF) ionospheric propagation An important lesson learned was that States and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) using HF communications needed to select operational frequencies taking ionospheric propagation conditions into consideration. • These led to state,s agreeing to Recommendtion 6/20 of the Special AFIRAN meeting Recommendation 6/20 — Improvement of air-ground high frequency (HF) communications in the AFI Region through use of ionospheric propagation forecasts • That States and air navigation service providers (ANSPs) utilizing high frequency (HF) air-ground communications develop procedures for selection of operational frequencies taking into account ionospheric propagation forecasts. 9/25/10

6. High frequency (HF) ionospheric propagation (ctd) The current situation is that this Recommendation 6/20  is not implemented by AFI States and ANSPs  due to the lack of guidance. State need to be provided with  HF propagation forecasting software 9/25/10

7. World Radio Conference 2012 (WRC-2012) preparation Activity to support ICAO position for WRC-12 is Ongoing. • through assignment of aviation experts to participate in CPM,s and as part of their national delegations at ITU Conferences in order to brief the delegations at those conferences on the ICAO position (as adopted by each states )and to support that position. • Regular monthly meeting coordinated by the National Regulatory agency of each state (there is aviation representation ). • Preparation for participation in the plenipotentiary meeting taking place in Mexico (4th-22nd Oct 2010) (Aviation reps. Are part of various study groups). • !st Frequency management workshop took place in Dakar (1st &2nd 2009) 9/25/10

8. World Radio Conference 2012 (WRC-2012) preparation • Another workshop is to take place next year in WACAF or EASF Regional office the study group will be advised appropriately . In line with SP AFIRAN 2008 Recommendation 6/21 — Frequency spectrum • That: • a) AFI States provide support to the activities of the frequency management group formed byAPRIG/16; • b) ICAO Headquarters support several meetings and one seminar in the AFI Region prior to World Radio Conference 2011 (WRC-2011); • c) States and other international organizations support attendance by regional offices at International Telecommunications Union (ITU) preparatory events for WRC-2011; 9/25/10

9. INTERFERENCE FROM NON- AERONAUTICAL SOURCES 1) MOSTLY BROADCASTING STATIONS FROM NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES . 2) TOWER FREQUENCY BLOCKAGE/LOCKED (NECESITATING A TEMPORARY CHANGE TO THE SECONDARY FREQUENCY) 3) EFFORT INCLUDE CONTACTING THE NATIONAL RADIO AGENCY AND INFORMING . CONSIDERING THE BAD IMPACT INTERFERENCE CAN CAUSE TO SAFETY CRITICAL FREQUENCY CONCERTED EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO REDUCE THIS TO MINIMUM BY WAY OF CONTINUOUS GUIDANCE TO STATES ON PROTECTION AGAINST INTERFERENCE 9/25/10