International Civil Aviation OrganisationMiddle East Office
Seminar on Aeronautical Spectrum ManagementCairo 4-6 June 2006
International Civil Aviation OrganisationMiddle East Office
Seminar on Aeronautical Spectrum ManagementCairo 4-6 June 2006
Agenda Item 8: HF Planning issues in AFI
Presented by Mary ObengRO/CNS, ICAO Dakar
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
• Due to increase in VHF coverage, there has been considerable decrease in the use of HF in AFI. However, IFALPA has been complaining of some HF congestion in AFI, notably AFI-3 (11300 KHz) and AFI-4 (8894 KHz).
• A COM survey was conducted by IFALPA and IATA
on VHF and HF coverage in the AFI Region to see how best the congestion could be eased.
Objectives of the SurveyObjectives of the Survey
• Establish status of implementation of mobile communications throughout the region
• Monitor progress in extension of VHF radio coverage
• Identify deficiencies in aeronautical mobile service coverage
• Assess problems of congestion on mobile frequencies and the extent to which they are used for ground/ground coordination
• Provide information to the COM/SG which will be useful in planning the improvement of air/ground communications
The Survey FormThe Survey Form
Call sign: Origin: Date:
Aircraft type: Destination: Signed:
Position: Time: z Flight Level:
Communications information
ATS Unit: Strength Clarity Congestion
Fre-quency:
VHF (SEE NOTE 3) 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 - 5 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 - 5Low – Medium - High
HF 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 - 5 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 - 5Low – Medium -
High
Was the frequency apparently in use for ground/ground co-ordination? Yes No
Comments:
IATA Mobile Communications Survey - 2000
Last Survey made in 1994
Responding to decision 4/16 of COM SG/4
Survey conducted in cooperation between IATA &
IFALPA
Dates – 20 April – 30 May 2000
More than 1140 pilot reports received
Analysis by IATA Regional Office using Access
database
Main ConclusionsMain Conclusions
• Higher proportion of calls are being made on VHFcompared to 1994
• HF still the only means available in significant portions of the AFI Region en route
• Noticeable improvement in average quality of communications, in line with increased availability of VHF
• Some reduction in congestion on AFI-4 family of frequencies but severe congestion persists on AFI-3 (11300Khz)
• Congestion directly associated to lack of VHF cover and non availability of ATS/DS
1994 2000
Use of VHF 1994 - 2000
HF HFVHF VHF
• 1994 - 37% of reports – VHF
• 2000 – 54% of reports - VHF
VHF EXTENTIONS IN SOUTHERNAND EASTERN AFI ALSO ACCRALUANDA,N’DJAMENA,KANO,NIAMEY,TUNIS FIRS
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Percentage Use of VHF by FIR - 2000
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Per
cen
tag
e
0 1 2 3 4 5
Strength
1994
2000
Strength 1994 vs 2000
Quality of Communications
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Perc
en
tag
e
0 1 2 3 4 5
Clarity
1994
2000
Clarity 1994 vs 2000
Quality of Communications
1994 2000
3x3 or better 3x3 or better
Quality 1994 vs 2000
• 1994 - 63% of reports 3x3 or better
• 2000 – 79% or reports 3x3 or better
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Quality by FIR
3x3 or better Worse than 3x3
Quality by FIR - 2000
Deficiencies in Mobile Coverage
The survey identifies those positions where mobile communications deficiencies occur
Following slides show positions where repetitive reports indicate difficulties in air/ground communication in both HF and VHF
All reports used in these slides indicate quality of communication less than 3x3
Deficiencies in Mobile coverage
Abidjan• MISLA
Luanda Alger
• ATAFA; Djanet; MOKAT; NSL; RAZEL; ROFER;
Khartoum• ALVOR; ME; Malakal;
Kinshasa• Buta Zega; KIBRO; MERON; SOBTO; TALAC;
USDUP
N’djamena• MERON
Tripoli• Kufra; NALUT; SEB;
Deficiencies in Mobile coverage
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
8894
8903
1130
0
1329
4
8861
6586
8879
6535
1129
1
8898
5517
HF Frequencies – by number of reports
ALG; KAN; NIM; AFI-2
ADD; CAI; KRT; MGQ; NBO; TIP
AFI-3
FIHAFI-4
DKR; ROBAFI-1
ACC; ABJAFI-4
DAR; MRU; SEZ; TNRINO-1
ACC; FIH; GBE; KAN; LAD; NDJ; NIM
AFI-4
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
KRT NBO TIP ADD KAN0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
KRT TIP NDJ LAD NBO
Congestion by FIR
•Percentage of Reports indicating HIGH congestion - Top Five
•Percentage of Reports indicating HIGH and/or MEDIUM congestion - Top Five
AFI-3
AFI-4
Frequency used for coordination
Use of Mobile Frequencies for Coordination
INADEQUATE ATS/DS IN AFI-3IMPLEMENTATION OF VSATCOM/SG/5 DECISION
Outcome of the surveyOutcome of the survey
• By improving aeronautical fixed services, implementation of the NAFISAT network will reduce the use of air-ground frequencies for ATS coordination (e.g. reduction of congestion on HF frequency 11300KHz.
• NAFISAT MOU has been signed by Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Kenya (Somalia), Civil Aviation Caretaker Authority (CACAS) Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Yemen, ATNS and IATA hopefully Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia will join the network.
• NAFISAT contract already awarded. The network is expected to be operational by 2007.