Radio Frequency Interference To ATC; Recording And Tracking Database

ACP WGF11/WP21

ACP WORKING GROUP F MEETING

(Nairobi, Kenya, February 20 – 27, 2004)

Agenda Item #10: Organization of spectrum and frequency management related activities in ICAO

RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE TO AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL; RECORDING AND TRACKING DATABASE

(Presented by the United States of America)

SUMMARY

In 1998 the United States implemented a comprehensive database system to record and archive radio frequency interference to air traffic control communications, navigation and surveillance services. This comprehensive data base is maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration Office of Spectrum Policy and Management. It is used to record daily radio frequency interference events affecting the National Airspace System (NAS) and their resolution status. The database also provides valuable baseline references to determined potential causes of interference as present day events are compared to similar occurrences in the past. This paper provides an overview of the Spectrum Management Database (SMDb).

1. Introduction

1.1 At the Montreal meeting of WG-F, members expressed interest in development of an international database. It was decided that a correspondence group would be formed to pursue this goal. This paper provides information on the U.S. RFI database and planned upgrades.

1.2 The Federal Aviation Administration office of Spectrum Policy and Management has been recording radio frequency interference events affecting the National Airspace System for many years. The process was performed by using a paper Frequency Interference Report (FIR) form completed by Air Traffic Control Facility personnel. This form was then mailed to a local Frequency Management Engineering Office for action and resolution. In 1990 the design of a new automated tool that would enable recording of such events by electronic means was completed and the first full-automated process was operational in 1996. In 1998 when the Global Positioning System (GPS) signal-in-space was available for civil use the Spectrum Management Database (SMDb) transitioned to a fully web based enterprise tool. Today, the SMDb continues to improve and add capabilities with industry standard open architecture automation tools. This paper provides an overview of the features available in the SMDb.

2. Discussion

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2.1 The most critical element in the process of resolving radio frequency interference (RFI) affecting aeronautical radio services is the reporting and tracking of events as they occur. Once good reporting procedures and sustained tracking are implemented the interference problem can normally be resolved effectively. The SMDb is one of the automation tools used by FAA Frequency Management Office (FMO) personnel to record, update archive and brief resolution of RFI and GPS anomalies.

2.2 The SMDb was developed as an automated reporting and tracking tool based on modern open architecture database software. The core database was constructed using Oracle database structures with commercially available Graphical User Interfaces (GUI) tools to interface with the users. These two elements combine to provide security and safeguards to the information content of the database by implementing user authentication processes. Figure 1 shows the login intranet page requesting user authentication.

Figure 1: SMDb Login User Authentication

The Spectrum Policy and Management office is required to maintain the database within the internet firewall protection established by the FAA. Therefore, this tool is only available within the FAA internal Local and Wide Area Networks.

2.3 SMDb users are categorized as administrators or guests. The administrator users are those FAA specialists who will create, track, update and close events within the SMDb. The guest users are those FAA specialists who are interested in retrieving information for creating briefing reports on the status and progress of a particular event. All users are capable of producing reports tailored to their particular needs from the information residing in the SMDb. Both types of users can also take

advantage of several Engineering Analysis tools available in the SMDb. Figure 2 shows one of the Engineering Analysis tools available for download in the SMDb.

Figure 2: SMDb Available Engineering Tools

These Engineering Analysis tools aid in calculating signal-in-space losses, signal propagation, signal level comparison to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and many other features. The SMDb is linked to three primary Engineering Tools and two secondary ones. Among the primary are the Radio Coverage Analysis (RCAS) Model, the Airspace Analysis Model (AAM) and the Automated Frequency Management (AFM) System.

Powerful query tools enable all users to search events by a number of criteria which include source of interference, service affected, regional facility affected and many other pertinent fields. The SMDb user-friendly query interface also includes dropdown menu options to select canned criteria for those users that do not make periodic use of the tool. To make the event recording process simple, the administrator users are only required to enter three elements to create a record. These elements are the radio frequency affected, the facility identification and the type of service the facility provides (i.e., remote enroute air-ground communications, etc.). After these elements are entered, the administrator user can recall the event and update the information contained in the record by editing any given field. Each recorded event is date and time tagged automatically in the SMDb, which provides the administrative user the opportunity to accurately capture the date and time the actual RFI event began. Figure 3 shows the webpage from which SMDb users will select a query criteria. This page shows the standard report query page. However, other type of report pages (i.e., Management Report, Analysis Report, etc.) will show similar query fields.

Figure 3: SMDb Query Criteria Interface

2.4 SMDb records may also contain attached files which provide multimedia supporting information. Some of these multimedia files will include photographs, audio clips and possibly video clips (e.g., spectrum analyzer video) electronically archived. In addition, the SMDb has an audio library of radio frequency interference events that have been positively identified and recorded with a brief description of the conditions that caused the RFI situation. With the appropriate set of computer multimedia hardware resources the user can download these audio clip files and hear the effects caused on aeronautical radio equipment by the identified source. Oftentimes, these audio files can help determine the nature of the interfering source.

2.5 SMDb recent improvements include the automatic replication of National Airspace System (NAS) Performance Reporting events that are identified as Radio Frequency Interference and an entire separate module for recording anomalies reported by pilots when using the Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation. These improvements make the SMDb the most comprehensive database for recording radio interference events that affect the United States National Airspace System. Further improvements are being implemented which include an independent module for recording Radiation Hazards Surveys conducted by FAA Frequency Management Office personnel and links to external reporting sources created by aviation stakeholders and key partner associations.

3. Conclusion

3.1 The FAA Office of Spectrum Policy and Management continues to develop effective tools for resolving radio frequency interference. We look forward to working with ICAO and ICAO member states and organizations to implement an international RFI database which incorporates the needs of international civil aviation users.

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