Feasibility of the Frequency Planning for LDACS Air-to-Air Communications in the L-band

Abstract

The 960-1215 MHz frequency range in the L-band is allocated worldwide on a primary basis to the aeronautical radio navigation service (ARNS). At the World Radio Conference 2007, the frequency range 960-1164 MHz within the L-band was additionally allocated to the aeronautical mobile (route) service (AM(R)S) on a co-primary basis to allow future communication systems to share large parts of the L-band with the existing radio navigation services. The L-band digital aeronautical communications system (LDACS) will operate its air-ground (A/G) and air-to-air (A2A) data links under AM(R)S allocation in the L-band ensuring spectrum sharing without mutual harmful interference. In this paper, we propose a frequency planning methodology for the LDACS A2A data link yielding no harmful interference towards the legacy systems operating in the L-band. We also assess the feasibility of the LDACS A2A frequency planning in the north-east coast of North America, the North Atlantic Corridor, and western Europe. Our results indicate that LDACS A2A can operate in the 960-1164 MHz frequency range without affecting the proper operation of the legacy systems. Whilst the available spectrum is maximized in oceanic airspace and reduced in continental airspace, LDACS A2A can employ numerous frequency channels in most locations. The lower part of the L-band presents the most promising results, as LDACS A2A can operate there in any considered location. In fact, the lowest frequencies can be used anywhere in the considered region, which might allow LDACS A2A to have a globally available frequency channel for its operation.