scope:

Scope and Objectives

This updated appendix to DO-262 provides information and requirements specific to an Aircraft Earth Station (AES) using the Iridium communication system for the purpose of providing Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) service (AMS(R)S). The International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Telecommunications Union reserve the designation "(Route)" for services related to the "priority and regularity of flights along national and international air routes". This document represents a significant update to the Iridium-specific minimum operational performance standards currently published in DO-262B. The document contains provision for identifying and potentially certifying several configurations of Iridium AES equipment.

This normative appendix has been developed in accordance with RTCA DO-262 as a techniquespecific attachment to an application for certification or other approval document. This appendix covers Iridium Satellite avionics requirements and tests for the AES only, including the Iridium transceiver and auxiliary equipment and the associated antenna. As required by DO-262, this appendix contains both detailed requirements and test procedures. Compliance with these requirements and test procedures is intended to provide one means of providing evidence for certification or other approval for Iridium AMS(R)S services. Alternative means of compliance that provide equivalent information are acceptable.

The focus in this document is on ensuring correct behavior of the AES at the services interfaces, where the user avionics interact with the AES, and at the signals-in-space interface, where the AES has desired interaction with the network, and potentially undesired interaction with other aircraft systems and the outside world.