RASMAG/14−IP/04 21-25/02/2011

International Civil Aviation Organization

The Fourteenth Meeting of the Regional Airspace Safety Monitoring Advisory Group (RASMAG/14)

Bangkok Thailand, 21-25 February 2011

Agenda Item 5: Airspace Safety Monitoring Activities/Requirements in the Asia/Pacific Region

UPDATE OF HMU IMPLEMENTATION IN

(Presented by Japan)

Summary

This paper provides the information on the progress of the preparation for the upcoming monitoring service to RVSM aircraft by a ground-based height monitoring unit (HMU) in Japan.

1. Introduction

1.1 Global long term monitoring of altimetry systems for RVSM

1.1.1 To be approved for operation in RVSM airspace, States must ensure that aircraft comply with technical requirements that enable the actual height cleared by air traffic services to be accurately maintained. The RVSM monitoring programs around the world have collected extensive height keeping data to determine the stability of Altimetry System Error (ASE) in airframes used for RVSM operations. The results show that ASE drift is worse than anticipated.

1.1.2 Accordingly, provisions have recently been included in ICAO Annex 6 – Operation of Aircraft that took effect from 18th November 2010 and require the global long term monitoring of altimetry systems used for RVSM operations.

1.2 Japan is preparing for the height monitoring service by the first HMU, which is officially named SETOUCHI HMU (*) after the location of antennas, situated within Flight Information Region (FIR). The accuracy of the altitude is calculated automatically when the aircraft flies within the measurable coverage of Setouchi HMU. The dates of having monitored are published on the website for each aircraft when measured values are appropriate. This paper provides the outline of Setouchi HMU and the process of height monitoring services, which will start from September 2011.

*note: Changed from tentative name “Okayama HMU” RASMAG/14 – IP/04 2

2. Discussion

2.1 Method of measurement

2.1.1 The HMU consists of the height monitoring equipment (HME) and the total vertical error (TVE) monitoring unit (TMU). In case of Japan, the HME captures mode S signals of aircraft’s SSR transponder replying to interrogations from radar stations. Geometrical three-dimensional position of airplane is measured by computing the time difference of arrival (TDOA) of a signal to more than four receivers (multilateration method). This information is transmitted to the TMU installed at Air Traffic Management Center in Fukuoka. The data is then combined with flight level altitude data corrected by meteorological data to evaluate the overall value for TVE. Eventually, the monitoring process produces TVE, AAD (Assigned Altitude Deviation) and ASE readings for each aircraft measured. Height Monitoring results are automatically transmitted to the RVSM Analyzing and Evaluating System where the aircraft’s performances are verified and recorded.

Figure 1 Monitoring flow of the HMU

2.2 Location

2.2.1 The central antenna of the Setouchi HMU is mounted close to Shodo VOR/DME “STE” located about 60NM west of . The coverage of the HMU is approximately 45NM radius of central antenna. The aircraft’s height keeping performance is measured and calculated automatically when the aircraft flies within the measurable coverage of Setouchi HMU. The HMU covers main ATS routes connecting and Fukuoka/Shanghai. 3 RASMAG/14 – IP/04

Figure 2 The location of the Setouchi HMU

Figure 3 ATS routes run through the coverage of the Setouchi HMU

2.2.2 More than 2000 IFR aircraft fly these ATS routes run through the HMU coverage at RVSM altitudes in a week. About 80% is the aircraft of Japanese airlines, and about 20% is the aircraft of non-Japanese airlines. RASMAG/14 – IP/04 4

2.3 Time schedule for implementation

2.3.1 The Setouchi HMU has been already installed at the site. The flight validation by the flight inspection team of the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB) will start in February 2011 for the evaluation of the required accuracy in accordance with Doc. 9574.

2.3.2 JCAB will start trial operation of height monitoring in April 2011. The purpose of the trial will collect enough samples of actual height keeping performance data and validate the accuracy of the readings. It is expected that at least 5 months trial will be needed. The official start of operations is planned in September 2011.

2.4 Monitoring data

2.4.1 The dates of having monitored will be published on the website (http://www.japan-rma- ema.com/) for each aircraft having flown the ATS route covered by the Setouchi HMU, when measured values are appropriate. JCAB RMA will provide the value of monitoring result only when the operators request the value of their aircraft. Details of the content provided on the website are as follows. The data will be updated once or twice a month.

Date of Last Operator Type Reg No Monitoring by OpName Setouchi HMU

JAL A306 JA011D 2011/10/11 Japan Air Lines Co. ANA A320 JA204A 2011/12/02 CO., LTD. IGA C25A JA001T 2011/12/01 IBEX Airlines Co., Ltd. JAL B738 JA315J 2011/11/27 Japan Air Lines Co. IGA C560 JA002A 2011/10/10 Asahi Shinbunsha : Table 1 Example…Monitoring Result provided on the Website

2.4.2 AIC Japan was published in December 2010 to inform the public about the Setouchi HMU. (Appendix A)

3. Action by the Meeting

3.1 The meeting is invited to note the information in this paper.

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APPENDIX A

Contact AIC Post: 133 Komemae Furugome Narita-Shi, Chiba. 058/10 Japan AIC for Japan Tel: +81-476-33-5811 Effective from 07 APR 2011 Fax: +81-476-33-5509 AFS: RJAAYNYX Email:[email protected] Published on 16 DEC 2010

Monitoring altitude of aircraft for RVSM airspace by Setouchi HMU (Height Monitoring Unit) Monitoring altitude of aircraft for RVSM airspace by Setouchi HMU (Height Monitoring Unit) will be conducted as follows.

1- purpose For implementation of RVSM, monitoring of aircraft height is necessary to ensure that the aircraft height- keeping performance standard is being met and aircraft should undergo altitude monitoring continuously. Monitoring altitude by HMU will be executed for safety assessment and monitoring of RVSM airspace within Fukuoka FIR.

2- Time schedule of operation (1) Trial period From 0000UTC 7 April 2011 to 0000UTC 22 September 2011

(2) Official start of operations 0000UTC 22 September 2011

3- Setouchi HMU location etc. (1) Central antenna site (Shodo VOR/DME: STE) 34°30’45”N/134°16’27”E

(2) Coverage 45NM radius of central antenna

4- Monitoring information (1)The measured values are calculated by automatic altitude monitoring of the aircraft flying within Setouchi HMU measurable coverage. Measured values are not adopted when the values are not satisfied with the accuracy of measurement due to bad weather etc.

(2)Operators, registration mark, type of aircraft and the dates of altitude monitoring executed are published on Japan RMA website (http://www.japan-rma-ema.com/) for each aircraft when the measured values are appropriate. RASMAG/14 – IP/04 6

Note: Measured values are not published. During the trial period, information on (2) above is not available on the website.

5- For further information (Before trial) Flight Procedures and Airspace Program Office, Air Traffic Services Department, Civil Aviation Bureau Postal:2-1-3, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 100-8918 TEL: +81-3-5253-8750 FAX: +81-3-5253-1663 E-mail: [email protected]

(After starting trial) Monitoring desk Air Traffic Management Center Postal:1302-17 Kosenuki, Nata, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka-shi, JAPAN 811-0204 TEL: +81-92-608-8869 FAX: +81-92-608-8880

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