AMC1 CAT.GEN.MPA.205 Aircraft tracking system — Aeroplanes

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 45

EQUIPMENT, PERFORMANCE AND PROCEDURES WHEN AIRCRAFT TRACKING IS REQUIRED

1. Automatic tracking of aeroplane position

   The aircraft tracking system should rely on equipment capable of automatically detecting and transmitting a position report to the aircraft operator, except if (d)(2) applies.

2. Position reporting period

   The tracking of an individual flight should provide a position report at time intervals which do not exceed 15 minutes.

3. Content of position reports

   Each position report should contain at least the latitude, the longitude and the time of position determination and whenever available, an indication of the aeroplane altitude, except that for each flight:

   1. One of the position reports may contain only time-stamped data indicating that the aeroplane has left the gate;

   2. One of the position reports may contain only time-stamped data indicating that the aeroplane has become airborne;

   3. One of the position reports may contain only time-stamped data indicating that the aeroplane has landed; and

   4. One of the position reports may contain only time-stamped data indicating that the aeroplane has reached the gate.

4. Source of position data

   The data contained in a position report may come from:

   1. ATC surveillance systems, if the ATC surveillance data source is capable of providing this data with a delay equal to or less than 10 minutes;

   2. the flight crew, if the planned flight duration is less than two position reporting periods;

   3. aeroplane systems. In that case:

      1. the source of time, latitude and longitude data should be the navigation system of the aeroplane or an approved GNSS receiver;

      2. the source of altitude data should be:

         1. the same source as for time, latitude and longitude data, or

         2. an approved source of pressure altitude; and

      3. the delivery time of position reports from the aeroplane to the operational control over the flight should, to the extent possible, not exceed 10 minutes; or

   4. any data source when the position report is of a type designated by (c)(1), (c)(2), (c)(3) or (c)(4). In that case, the delivery time of position reports from the data source to the operational control over the flight should, to the extent possible, not exceed 10 minutes.

5. Temporary lack of aircraft tracking data

   Aircraft tracking data may be incomplete due to a temporary or unexpected issue prior to or during the flight. However, the operator should:

   1. identify any loss of aircraft tracking data which is not due to a temporary issue, and

   2. address any systematic lack of aircraft tracking data affecting a given aeroplane or a given route in a timely manner.

6. Operational control over the flights

   When abnormal flight behaviour is suspected, this should be checked and acted upon without delay.

7. Recording of aircraft tracking data during normal operation

   When the tracking of a flight is required, all related aircraft tracking data should be recorded on the ground, including position data from ATC surveillance systems when they are used. The aircraft tracking data of a given flight should be retained until confirmation that the flight is completed and no accident or serious incident occurred.

8. Preserving aircraft tracking data after an accident or a serious incident

   Following an accident or a serious incident, the operator should retain the aircraft tracking data of the involved flight for at least 30 days. In addition, the operator should be capable of providing a copy of this data without delay and in an electronic format that is human-readable using a common text file editor.

9. Procedures

   The operator should establish procedures describing its aircraft tracking system, including the identification of abnormal flight behaviour and the notification of the designated ATS unit (i.e.the ATS unit that is responsible for providing the alerting service in the airspace where the aircraft is believed to be), when appropriate. These procedures should be integrated with the emergency response plan of the operator.