Update on Wireless Avionics Intra-

Communications (WAIC)

ITU-R Update and Future Regulatory

Considerations

ICAO WG-F Meeting – Paris, FranceMarch 2011Mr. Joseph Cramer

Agenda

• AVSI and WAIC• Importance of WAIC• WRC-12 Agenda Item Potentially

Impacting WAIC– AI 1.12

• ITU-R Update• Future WRC Agenda Item Proposals• Agenda Item 8.2– ICAO and Future Course of Action – ICAO and CEPT Support

AVSI and WAIC

• What is the Aerospace Vehicle Systems Institute (AVSI) – Aerospace Vehicle System Institute - A cooperative of companies,

academia and government agencies.

– Focus on developing improved aerospace vehicles.

– Creates an environment for collaboration on research and development projects; investigates emerging technologies; and influences standards and policies to promote cost effective systems development and certification.

• What is Wireless Avionics Intra Communications (WAIC) – ITU-R Report M.2197

– Radiocommunication between two or more points on a single aircraft.

– Includes integrated wireless components and/or installed components.

– Part of a closed, exclusive network required for operation of the aircraft.

– Does not provide air-to-ground, air to satellite, or air-to-air communications.

– Only safety related applications are being contemplated.

– Not for passengers or in-flight entertainment

Importance of WAIC to Aviation Industry

• Environmental Benefits– Goal is to reduce wiring and associated aircraft

weight, enabling less fuel burn.

• Increased Reliability – Fewer connector pins/failures, cracked insulation,

& broken conductors.– Mesh networks could provide redundancy in

emergencies.

• Safety Improvements:– Wireless links can provide redundancy– Reduce amount of aging wiring and associated

malfunction issues – fewer connector pins/failures, lower risk of

cracked insulation & broken conductors

Importance of WAIC to Aviation Industry

• Operational Efficiency Improvements– Ability to obtain more data from aircraft

surfaces – Easier and more reliable access to

maintenance data, particularly for rotating and moving parts (e.g. wheel wells, actuators, etc.)

– Less wire maintenance to remediate chafing conditions

– Simplify and reduce life-cycle cost of airplane wiring

– Reduced weight should save fuel costs

WAIC Technical Characteristics

• WAIC is based on short range radio technology (< 100m)

• WAIC will utilize low transmission power (< 10 mW)

• Most applications are internal - within fuselage/cabin

• External transmission via directive antennas (e.g. landing gear, wings)

• Communication in WAIC systems takes place between aircraft stations (although both on same aircraft)

• Communication in WAIC systems is related to safety and regularity of flight

• WAIC systems will be installed primarily onboard civil aircraft operated along national or international civil air routes

Examples of Potential WAIC Applications

• Low Data Rate, Interior Applications:– Sensors: Cabin Pressure - Smoke Detection - Fuel Tank/Line –

ProximityTemperature - EMI Incident Detection - Structural Health

Monitoring - Humidity/Corrosion Detection – Controls: Emergency Lighting - Cabin Functions

• Low Data Rate, Outside Applications:– Sensors:Ice Detection - Landing Gear Position Feedback - Brake

Temperature -Tire Pressure - Wheel Speed - Steering Feedback -Flight Controls Position Feedback - Door Proximity - Engine

Sensors -Cargo Compartment - Structural Sensors

• High Data Rate, Interior Applications:– Sensors: Air Data - Engine Prognostic -

Flight Deck/Cabin Crew Still Imagery / Video– Comm.: Avionics Communications Bus - FADEC Aircraft Interface -

Flight Deck/Cabin Crew Audio / Video (safety-related) -Flight -Operations related Digital Data (e.g. EFOS…)

• High Data Rate, Outside Applications:– Sensors:Structural Health Monitoring - Imaging Sensors (Still and Video)– Controls: Active Vibration Control– Comm.: Avionics Communications Bus

WRC-12 Agenda Item Potentially Impacting WAIC

• Agenda Item 1.12– Seeks to determine if the aeronautical mobile service should

not be permitted in the 37-38 GHz band

• No current aviation systems in this band. – Until 2008, no aviation systems were considered in this

band. – Given protection criteria for SRS systems, unlikely WAIC can

use the band unless protection criteria are realistic.

• ICAO Position– To oppose excluding aeronautical use of the existing mobile

service allocation in the band 37 - 38 GHz. To support the use of technical protection limits to ensure that any future AMS system in the band 37 - 38 GHz will be compatible with other co-primary services.

• CPM Report effectively removes ability of aeronautical systems to use band at this time.

WRC-12 Agenda Item Potentially Impacting WAIC

• Agenda Item 1.12– CITEL Position – Consistent with ICAO

Position– CEPT Position – Eliminate Aeronautical Mobile

Service– APT Position – Support the sharing studies – ASMG Position – Support sharing studies &

eliminate AMS if studies show sharing is not possible

– ATU Position – TBD?

• Aerospace Industry wants to protect Space Research Service

• AMS systems will not interfere with Fixed Service applications.

ITU-R Working Party 5B – Update

• WP5B is lead ITU-R Group• WAIC New Report– ITU-R M.2197– Technical Characteristics and Operational

Objectives of WAIC Systems– Approved at November 2010 Study Group 5

meeting

Agenda Item 8.2ICAO and Future Course of Action

• Future WRC Agenda Item Proposals for WAIC• Proposals submitted by Germany, Brazil, and

New Zealand to Regional bodies.• German proposal submitted to CEPT in 2010. • US proposal will be submitted to CITEL. (See

ICAO Document IP XX for this meeting)• World-wide allocation(s) must be obtained• Spectrum usage must fall within ICAO

Convention in order to obtain benefits for equipment certification. • US proposal is most specific – First look at

“aviation” bands (AM(R)S and ARNS bands).

Agenda Item 8.2ICAO and CEPT Support

• Prior to and post approval of a WAIC Agenda Item, support from ICAO and other relevant bodies is required. – Need explicit support from ICAO at WRC-12.

• WAIC’s safety benefits could be incorporated into the ITU-R Regulations in several ways: – AM(R)S (preferred option)– Aeronautical Mobile Service with Footnote

providing priority– Addition of Definition similar to 1.79 for aircraft

purposes • Need to consider how to meet ITU and ICAO

requirements:

Service Definition

• Issues to Address Regarding Future Agenda Item

• Under what Service should WAIC be classified? – AM(R)S - ITU-R incumbents much more motivated to oppose, but

WAIC is not ubiquitous and is a low power radio technology.– AMS with footnote providing details for protection

• Potential for weakening aviation safety argument.

• Adding a definition similar to ITU-R 1.79: – on-board communication station: A low-powered mobile station in

the maritime mobile service intended for use for internal communications on board a ship, or between a ship and its lifeboats and life-rafts during lifeboat drills or operations, or for communication within a group of vessels being towed or pushed, as well as for line handling and mooring instructions.

• World-wide allocation(s) must be obtained– Spectrum usage must fall within ICAO Convention in order to

obtain benefits for equipment certification.

Service Definition• WAIC could be classified as AM(R)S - It complies

with RR Article 1.33• 1.83 aircraft station: A mobile station in the aeronautical mobile

service, other than a survival craft station, located on board an aircraft.– A WAIC transmitter can be considered an “aircraft station” because it is

located on an aircraft.

• 1.32 aeronautical mobile service: A mobile service between aeronautical stations and aircraft stations, or between aircraft stations, …– Communication between WAIC transmitters conforms with the requirement

“between aircraft stations”. No requirement that aircraft stations cannot be on same aircraft.

• 1.33 aeronautical mobile (R) service: An aeronautical mobile service reserved for communications relating to safety and regularity of flight, primarily along national or international civil air routes.– WAIC applications are defined as limited to safety applications.– WAIC systems will be installed onboard civil aircraft operated along national

or international civil air routes