Aviation Spectrum Group

The Aviation Spectrum Group (ASG) provides a forum for the discussion, coordination and formulation of views from the New Zealand aviation sector, including both airline and general aviation communities, on matters related to the radio frequency spectrum and its uses for communications, navigation and surveillance.

The ASG represents these aviation views on spectrum matters to the Ministry of Economic Development (MED) as required and participates in the New Zealand preparatory processes for relevant international meetings and conferences, particularly of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity (APT). The ASG also monitors activities related to spectrum issues in the ICAO communication and navigation panels and working groups.

The ASG provides:

  • Opportunities to formulate common positions of the New Zealand aviation community on issues concerning current and future use of the spectrum and to promote these within radio regulatory forums.
  • Opportunities for members of the ASG to be kept informed on spectrum-related issues likely to affect the interests of the New Zealand aviation community.

The ITU World Radio Conference (WRC-12), held in Geneva in January/February 2012, was successful for aviation. The “Other Information” section below contains a brief summary of the outcomes for aviation.

The next World Radio Conference (WRC-15) will be held late in 2015 and has several agenda items of importance to aviation: of particular interest are one covering Fixed Satellite Service feeder links for UAS and one on wireless avionics intra-communications (WAIC) for aircraft.. The ASG will develop a New Zealand aviation position for WRC-15, which will be passed to the NZ Radio Sector for approval and incorporation into the New Zealand Position.  The ASG will continue to review the position in the period leading up to the WRC.

ASG membership is open to representatives from the New Zealand aviation community with an interest in the use of the radio spectrum by aviation either as users or as spectrum and frequency regulatory experts. The MED attends meetings of the ASG in an advisory capacity.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be held in the 3rd quarter of 2013.

Meeting Reports

Meeting Report - 19 Meeting Report - 20  
Meeting Report - 16 Meeting Report - 17 Meeting Report - 18
Meeting Report - 13 Meeting Report - 14 Meeting Report - 15
Meeting Report - 10 Meeting Report - 11 Meeting Report - 12
Meeting Report - 07 Meeting Report - 08 Meeting Report - 09
Meeting Report - 04 Meeting Report - 05 Meeting Report - 06
Meeting Report - 01 Meeting Report - 02 Meeting Report - 03

Other Information

There were 3 main aviation outcomes of WRC-12.
  1. Spectrum was agreed for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating in non-segregated airspace.  WRC-12 approved the use of existing AMS(R)S allocations for the satellite component of UAS  in the 5030-5091 MHz band and a new AM(R)S allocation for terrestrial UAS in the same band.
  2. Studies relating to AM(R)S allocations at 112 – 118 MHz, 960 – 1 164 MHz and 5 000 – 5 030 MHz) were concluded and the provisional status of these allocations has effectively been removed.

  3. The procedures for spectrum allocation to the AMS(R)S at L-Band have been made more transparent, which should give better access to some aviation communication service providers.

For further information, contact:
Toby Farmer
Tel: +64 4 560 9583
Email:  Toby.Farmer@caa.govt.nz