scope:

FOREWORD

Historical background

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Special Communications/Operations Divisional Meeting held in 1995 (Special COM/OPS/95) noted that the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) had begun to convene its World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRCs) every three to four years. While divisional-type ICAO meetings had traditionally developed positions on WRC agenda items related to aviation, it was evident that it was not feasible to convene such meetings frequently enough to keep pace with this schedule of WRCs. The Special COM/OPS/95 meeting recognized the importance of keeping up with the rapid development in telecommunications and consequently recommended that a new mechanism be developed to enable civil aviation to record its agreed requirements for aeronautical radio frequency spectrum in an adequate and timely manner.

The meeting accordingly recommended that an ICAO radio frequency (RF) document be developed and maintained (Recommendation 7/1). The Air Navigation Commission, at its meeting on 19 June 1995 (ANC 139-10), approved the recommendation for action. Subsequently, ICAO developed this Handbook on Radio Frequency Spectrum Requirements for Civil Aviation and the first edition was published in 1998.

Recommendation 7/1 - ICAO radio frequency (RF) policy document on the aeronautical utilization of the RF spectrum

That ICAO develop and maintain a document (rolling plan) containing policy statements and other elements relevant to the utilization of the frequency spectrum with a view to assisting States and ICAO in their preparation for future ITU world radiocommunication conferences.