Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence 2006
The AUSTRALIAN COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA AUTHORITY makes this Class Licence under subsection 132 (1) and section 135 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992.
Dated 31st August 2006
CHRIS CHAPMAN
Chairman
LYN MADDOCK
Deputy Chair
Australian Communications and Media Authority
Contents
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Class Licence 3
2 Commencement 3
3 Revocation 3
4 Definitions 3
Part 2 Class licence
5 Class Licence 6
Part 3 Conditions
6 Compliance with specifications, equipment compliance requirements and standards 7
7 Operator qualifications 7
8 Station identification 7
9 Communications between stations 8
10 Operations outside Australia (aircraft stations) 8
11 Use of frequencies 9
12 Operation on radionavigation frequencies (aircraft stations) 10
Schedule 1 Specifications, equipment compliance requirements and standards 11
Part 1.1 Aeronautical equipment 11
Part 1.2 VHF international maritime mobile service equipment 11
Schedule 2 Frequencies for operation 13
Part 2.1 Operation on high frequencies — aircraft stations 13
Part 2.2 Operation on very high frequencies — aircraft stations and aeronautical mobile stations 13
Part 2.3 Operation on radionavigation frequencies — aircraft stations 14
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Class Licence
This Class Licence is the Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence 2006.
2 Commencement
This Class Licence commences on the day after it is registered.
3 Revocation
The Radiocommunications (Aircraft Station) Class Licence 2001 is revoked.
4 Definitions
In this Class Licence:
aero club means a club formed by individuals to participate in activities relating to aircraft other than model aircraft.
Aeronautical Information Publication has the meaning given by regulation 4.12 of the Air Services Regulations.
aeronautical mobile station means a station that:
(a) is a mobile station, other than an aircraft station or an earth station; and
(b) operates on any of the frequencies mentioned in subsection 11 (2); and
(c) either:
(i) operates with a transmitter output power of 5 watts or less; or
(ii) at a location where the frequency in use is authorised to a station, licensed under an aeronautical licence (aeronautical assigned station), to which that mobile station relates — operates with a transmitter power exceeding 5 watts but not exceeding 25 watts.
aircraft means a machine or craft that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air, other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface.
aircraft station:
(a) means a station:
(i) that is operated on board an aircraft for communication with:
(A) other aircraft stations; or
(B) aeronautical stations, whether fixed or mobile; and
(ii) that operates on any of the frequencies mentioned in subsection 11 (1) and section 12; and
(b) includes equipment of a kind that is in a survival craft of an aircraft.
Airservices Australia means the body called Airservices Australia established by subsection 7 (1) of the Air Services Act 1995.
CASA means the Civil Aviation Safety Authority established by subsection 8 (1) of the Civil Aviation Act 1988.
charter purposes has the meaning given by paragraph 206 (1) (b) of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
Civil Aviation Regulations means the Civil Aviation Regulations 1988.
Civil Aviation Orders means orders issued by CASA under regulation 5 of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
device compliance day means the most recent of the following days:
(a) if a device was manufactured in Australia — the day the device was manufactured;
(b) if a device was manufactured overseas and imported into Australia — the day it was imported;
(c) if a device was altered or modified in a material respect — the day it was altered or modified.
ICAO means the International Civil Aviation Organization referred to in the Convention on International Civil Aviation, ratified at Chicago on 7 December 1944.
radiodetermination means:
(a) determination, on the basis of propagation properties of radio waves, of:
(i) the position of an object; or
(ii) the velocity of the object; or
(iii) other characteristics of the object; or
(b) the obtaining of information about the characteristics mentioned in paragraph (a).
radionavigation means the use of radiocommunications (including radiodetermination) for the purpose of navigation or obstruction warning.
sport aviation body has the meaning given by subregulation 2 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations.
survival craft station means a mobile station in the maritime mobile service or the aeronautical mobile service that is:
(a) intended only for use for survival purposes; and
(b) located on a lifeboat, life‑raft or other survival equipment.
Note 1 For the definitions of other expressions used in this Class Licence, including:
· earth receive station
· space object
see the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.
Note 2 Some expressions that are defined in this Class Licence (for example, aircraft) are defined in identical terms in the Civil Aviation Act 1988.
Part 2 Class licence
5 Class Licence
(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Class Licence authorises a person to operate the following stations, if the person complies with the conditions in this Class Licence:
(a) an aircraft station;
(b) an aeronautical mobile station.
Note Other requirements, under legislation administered by Airservices Australia or CASA, may apply to the person in relation to the operation of an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station.
(2) This Class Licence does not apply to any radiocommunications device operating under an apparatus licence that is authorised to operate for a purpose that is substantially the same as the purpose for which, except for this subsection, its operation would be authorised by this Class Licence.
Part 3 Conditions
6 Compliance with specifications, equipment compliance requirements and standards
A person must not operate an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station unless each device included in the station:
(a) if the device has a device compliance day before 1 July 2001 —complies with a specification, equipment compliance requirement or standard, as in force on the device compliance day, that:
(i) is mentioned in Schedule 1; and
(ii) applies to the device; or
(b) if the device has a device compliance day on or after 1 July 2001 —complies with:
(i) a specification, equipment compliance requirement or standard, as in force on the device compliance day, that:
(A) is mentioned in Schedule 1; and
(B) applies to the device; and
(ii) any other standard that applies to the device on its device compliance day.
Note 1 If radiocommunications equipment is required to be fitted to, or carried on, an aircraft under the Civil Aviation Regulations, it must also comply with the relevant Civil Aviation Orders, Minimum Operational Performance Specifications and Technical Standard Orders.
Note 2 The Australian Communications and Media Authority wishes to make it clear that, if a specification, equipment compliance requirement or standard referred to in this section is amended, or replaced by another specification, equipment compliance requirement or standard, after the device compliance day for a device, the device need not comply with the new or amended specification, equipment compliance requirement or standard.
Note 3 Under section 5 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992, standard means a standard made under section 162 of the Act.
7 Operator qualifications
A person may operate an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station only if the person is qualified to operate the station in accordance with the Civil Aviation Regulations and the relevant Civil Aviation Orders.
8 Station identification
(1) A person who operates an aircraft station must identify the station using:
(a) the nationality mark and the registration mark of the aircraft; or
(b) the registration issued by a sport aviation body; or
(c) any other form of identification that clearly identifies the station.
(2) A person who operates an aeronautical mobile station must identify the station using a form of identification that clearly identifies the station.
Note Other requirements, under legislation administered by Airservices Australia or CASA, may apply to the person in relation to the operation of an aircraft station or an aeronautical mobile station.
9 Communications between stations
(1) A person may operate an aircraft station to communicate only with:
(a) another aircraft station; or
(b) an aeronautical station; or
(c) a station operating on a frequency mentioned in paragraph 11 (1) (d).
(2) A person may operate an aeronautical mobile station to communicate only with:
(a) an aircraft station; or
(b) an aeronautical station.
(3) A communication mentioned in subsection (1) or (2) may be made only if the communication relates to:
(a) the safe and expeditious conduct of a flight; or
(b) an emergency; or
(c) a matter that relates to the particular occupation or industry in which:
(i) the aircraft to which the aircraft station relates is engaged; or
(ii) the aeronautical mobile station is engaged.
(4) However, subsection (3) does not apply to a person employed by:
(a) Airservices Australia; or
(b) CASA.
10 Operations outside Australia (aircraft stations)
(1) A person may operate an aircraft station outside Australia only in accordance with:
(a) the International Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations; and
(b) if the station is in the territory of another country — the requirements of the country applicable to radiocommunications.
(2) If an aircraft station is to be operated outside Australia on a frequency authorised by ICAO and published in an Aeronautical Information Publication (or a similar document, as in force, from time to time, for the country in whose territory the station is located), the person may operate the station only to communicate with:
(a) an aeronautical station operated in another country; or
(b) another aircraft station.
11 Use of frequencies
(1) A person may operate an aircraft station only:
(a) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.1 of Schedule 2, and on a carrier frequency mentioned in column 3 of the item, utilising single sideband modulation using upper sideband with a necessary bandwidth not exceeding 2.8 kHz; or
(b) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of Part 2.2 of Schedule 2, and on a carrier frequency mentioned in column 3 in relation to that purpose; or
(c) on a frequency permitted in an Aeronautical Information Publication; or
(d) on any of the following frequencies for the purposes of search and rescue only:
(i) 2 182 kHz;
(ii) 3 023 kHz;
(iii) 4 125 kHz;
(iv) 5 680 kHz;
(v) 121.5 Mhz;
(vi) 123.1 MHz;
(vii) 123.2 MHz;
(viii) 156.3 MHz;
(ix) 156.8 MHz.
(2) A person may operate an aeronautical mobile station only:
(a) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of Part 2.2 of Schedule 2, and on a carrier frequency mentioned in column 3 in relation to that purpose; or
(b) on a frequency permitted in an Aeronautical Information Publication; or
(c) on either of the following frequencies for the purposes of search and rescue only:
(i) 3 023 kHz;
(ii) 5 680 kHz;
(iii) 121.5 MHz;
(iv) 123.1 MHz;
(v) 123.2 MHz.
12 Operation on radionavigation frequencies (aircraft stations)
A person may operate an aircraft station on radionavigation frequencies only:
(a) for a purpose mentioned in column 2 of an item in Part 2.3 of Schedule 2; and
(b) on a frequency in a frequency band mentioned in column 3 of the item.
Schedule 1 Specifications, equipment compliance requirements and standards
(section 6)
Part 1.1 Aeronautical equipment
Item
Description of document
1
Specification for Radio Equipment Employed in Land and Harbour Mobile Radiocommunication Services (also known as RB 272), published by the Department of Communications in November 1980
2
Specification for Radio Equipment Employed in Land Mobile Radiocommunication Services (also known as RB 203), published by the Department of Communications in June 1982
3
Equipment Specification for Land Mobile Services (70–85 MHz, 92–94 MHz and Aeronautical Band 118–136 MHz) (also known as DOC 203A), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in October 1988
4
Equipment Specification for Land and Harbour Mobile Services (70–85 MHz, 148–174 MHz and Aeronautical Band 118–136 MHz) (also known as DOC 272A), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in February 1989
5
Equipment Compliance Requirements for radio equipment employed in Land Mobile Radiocommunications Services (also known as ECR 203A), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in April 1992
6
Equipment Compliance Requirements for radio equipment intended for use in the Aviation Service (also known as Equipment Compliance Requirement 272A), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in April 1992
7
Radiocommunications (118 MHz to 137 MHz Amplitude Modulated Equipment — Aeronautical Radio Service) Standard 2002, published in the Gazette on 8 May 2002
Part 1.2 VHF international maritime mobile service equipment
Item
Description of document
1
Specification for Radio Equipment employed in the International VHF Maritime Mobile Radiotelephone Service (also known as RB 274), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1977
2
Specification for Radio Equipment employed in the International VHF Maritime Mobile Radiotelephone Service (also known as RB 275), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1977
3
Specification for the International VHF Maritime Mobile Radiotelephone Service (also known as RB 274), published by the Postal and Telecommunications Department in October 1988
4
Equipment Compliance Requirements for Radiotelephony Equipment used in the VHF International Maritime Mobile Service (incorporating Ministerial Standard 274) (also known as ECR 274), published by the Department of Transport and Communications in October 1990
5
Radiocommunications Standard (406 MHz Satellite Distress Beacons) No. 1 of 1996, gazetted on 20 December 1996
6
Radiocommunications Standard (VHF Radiotelephone Equipment — Maritime Mobile Service) No. 1 of 1997, gazetted on 5 March 1997
Schedule 2 Frequencies for operation
(sections 11 and 12)
Part 2.1 Operation on high frequencies — aircraft stations
Item
Purpose
Carrier frequency
(kHz)
1
Surveying
2 140
4 615 1
2
General use
3 216 1
3 704
3 876
6 628
6 697
Note
1 This frequency can be used only for aeronautical communications, including communications relating to flight coordination, primarily outside national or international civil air routes.
Part 2.2 Operation on very high frequencies — aircraft stations and aeronautical mobile stations
Item
Purpose
Carrier frequency
(MHz)
1
(a) aero club operations
(b) flying school operations
(c) firespotting
119.1
2
Parachute club operations
119.2
3
Helicopter operations:
(a) air to air communications only
(b) ground to air and air to ground communications only
120.4
120.8
4
Aviation sport
120.85
5
Emergency location:
(a) for aircraft stations and aeronautical mobile stations
(b) for aircraft stations only
121.5 1
243.0 1
406–406.1
Note
1 As a result of international agreement, the COSPAS‑SARSAT system will no longer receive transmission on these frequencies from 1 February 2009.
6
Glider or sailplane operations
122.5
122.7
122.9
7
Fishing operations or agricultural operations including stock mustering
122.8
8
Pilot to pilot communications
123.45
9
Air show
127.9
10
Traffic information broadcasts by aircraft (TIBA):
(a) at or above FL200
(b) below FL200
128.95
126.35
11
Aircraft industry testing
129.1
12
Crop dusting
129.6
13
Aerodrome operations
129.9
14
Charter purposes (above 20 000 feet)
135.95
15
Charter purposes and other purposes not listed in another item
126.4
128.9
135.55
Part 2.3 Operation on radionavigation frequencies — aircraft stations
Item
Purpose
Frequency band
(MHz)
1
Aeronautical Radionavigation Distance
Measuring Equipment
1024–1151
2
Airborne Collision Avoidance System (interrogator)
1026–1034
3
Secondary Surveillance RADAR
Airborne Collision Avoidance System (reply)
Automatic Dependant Surveillance — Broadcast
1087–1093
4
Radio altimeter
4200–4400
5
Weather RADAR
5350–5470
9300–9500
6
Doppler RADAR
8750–8850
13250–13400
