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Licensing Procedures Manual for Aeronautical Radio |
| The purpose of the manual | |
| Additional topics | |
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| About aeronautical radio | |
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| Licences | |
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| Frequency assignment | |
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| Disclaimer |
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This manual has been written to identify those areas where aeronautical licensing procedures differ from those laid out in the Radiocommunications Agency's Licensing Policy Manual. This guide is intended to complement and supplement the information given in that manual, and this is available, together with a range of other information, at the Agency's website, located at www.radio.gov.uk
There are three distinct licence types within the Aeronautical Sector: these are Aircraft Ground Station (AGS) and Navigational Aid and RADAR (NAVAID). This manual has been designed in order to deal with their variances from normal Agency procedures in one document.
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Further information on the following topics is available in the Radiocommunications Agency Licensing Policy Manual:
The above manual is available from:
Information and Library
Service
Radiocommunications
Agency
Wyndham House
189 Marsh Wall
London
E14 9SX
Tel: 020 7211 0502/0505
E-mail: library@ra.gsi.gov.uk
Alternatively, the manual is available on the Radiocommunications Agency's website at: www.radio.gov.uk.
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Introduction to aeronautical radio
The equipment used by aircraft and ground stations is used primarily to ensure the safety of human life and aircraft and is even required by Law for some users. The Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) Directorate of Airspace Policy (DAP) is responsible for the allocation of radio frequencies and Secondary Surveillance RADAR (SSR) codes in the UK. The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 (1949 Act) is the primary UK legislation which makes it an offence to install or use radio transmission equipment without a licence unless it is specifically licence exempt, thereby implementing the requirements of the Air Navigation Order with regard to radio equipment.
The use of Aeronautical radio equipment both in aircraft and on the ground is subject to regulation by the CAA in three main areas: Type approval; Certificate of Installation approval and the Flight Radiotelephony Operator' Certificate. While these are referred to in the 1949 Act licence document, they are the responsibility of the CAA.
All Aeronautical radio equipment used in the UK must be of a type approved by the CAA; this includes aircraft radio equipment whether it is fixed (installed) or transportable (handheld). Enquiries on the approval of radio equipment should be made to the CAA Avionics Systems Section on 01293 573 132.
Fixed installations of Aeronautical radio equipment are required to gain a CAA Certificate of Installation approval. This covers items such as the power supply system, power output, frequencies used and antenna cabling. Enquiries about Certificates of Installation approval should be made to CAA Applications and Certifications Section on 01293 573 918/177/147.
The Flight Radiotelephony Operator's Certificate is the aircrew qualification in radio procedures and phraseology. It is obtained by a written examination and either a practical communications test or continuous assessment during Private Pilot's Licence (PPL) training. The licence is issued free of charge to holders of UK flight crew licences. It may also be issued to any other person who satisfies the qualification requirements for which an issue fee is charged. The licence is valid for 10 years. General enquiries on flight radiotelephony operator licensing should be made to the CAA Flight Crew Licensing Department on 01293 573 700.
Article 21, paragraph 2 (a)(i) of the Air Navigation Order exempts glider pilots and persons from being trained as flight crew in UK registered aircraft, when using the nominated glider frequencies only. However, glider pilots must contact air traffic control if they wish to enter controlled airspace for which they must hold the Flight Radiotelephony Operators Licence. Pilots of balloons have no exemption under this article and should hold a Flight Radiotelephony Operators Licence even for air to ground communication with retrieval vehicles on the nominated balloon frequency.
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Licence fees and payment methods
At present, licence fees are an annual charge except for short-term variations on AGS and Aircraft licences. Payments are made by cheque, postal order, direct debit or credit card. However, in accordance with the Agency's commitment to complying with the Government's electronic commerce initiative by 2004, the Agency's Specialist Sectors Unit (SPES) is at the time of writing, investigating the viability of introducing an electronic licensing facility for these sectors.
It is unlikely that Spectrum Pricing will cause significant changes, in the foreseeable future, to this Sector. In July 2000, the Aeronautical licensing sector fee rates were reviewed, with the result that the fees for many of these licence classes were reduced.
The Aeronautical fee structure is set out below:
Aeronautical Ground Stations (AGS):
AGS: Air traffic/Ground
Movement Control = £150
AGS: Airfield Flight Information
Service = £100
AGS: Operations Control = £250
AGS: General Aviation = £25
Temporary
AGS = pro-rata fee depending on type of service required.
Aeronautical navigation aids and RADAR:
£20 for each navigational aid or radar station.
Aircraft radio:
Aircraft Transportable Radio Licence: £15 (this is to license a portable radio set that is not installed in a particular aircraft).
Band A: £20 for an aircraft with an approved maximum take-off weight of up to 3,200 kg.
Band B: £150 for an aircraft with an approved take-off weight of 3,201 kg and up to 14,000 kg. (Note: if the aircraft has recorded 100 flying hours or less in each of the last two years, there is a dispensary fee of £20 per year available. It is also possible for licensees to obtain short-term licences (with pro-rata fees) for delivery purposes.)
Band C: £350 for an aircraft with an approved take-off weight of more than 14,000 kg.
(Note: if the aircraft has recorded 100 flying hours or less in each of the last two years, there is a dispensary fee of £20 per year available. It is also possible for licensees to obtain short-term licences (with pro-rata fees) for delivery purposes).
Due to the fact that frequency clearance/assignment and type approval work for Aeronautical radio is carried out by the CAA and in order to create a one-stop shop for Aeronautical licensing, the Agency has now contracted out the Aeronautical licensing function to the CAA. The Radio Licensing Section of CAA is located at:
CAA Directorate of
Airspace Policy
45-49 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6TE
Tel: 020 7453 6555
Crown Exemption is not applicable to the Aeronautical Radio licensing sector.
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The civil aviation authority
As mentioned previously in this manual, the CAA is responsible for all aspects of aviation policy in the UK. As such it is responsible for elements of radio policy that would be the domain of the Agency in other sectors.
The frequencies available to aircraft are allocated and agreed internationally.
CAA, Directorate
of airspace policy
45-59 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6TE
Tel: 020 7453 6555
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This document is designed to provide details of the Radiocommunications Agency's licensing procedures relating to Aeronautical Radio. However, it should not be taken as giving exact policy in relation to this sector as revisions to this document will be done periodically or when there is a substantive need to update the document. This document can therefore only be accurate at the time of writing and should in any event be read in conjunction with the Agency's Licensing Policy Manual.
Therefore the Agency accepts no responsibility or liability for to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document.
Revisions to this document will be done periodically or when there is a substantive need to update this document.
Please contact the appropriate business unit directly if you have any queries or concerns, which can be found in Annex B of the Agency's Licensing Policy Manual.
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The Radiocommunications Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry The Agency
General Enquiry Point/Switchboard telephone number:
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| Version
0.2 SEPTEMBER 2002 |
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