47 C.F.R. Subpart J—Flight Test Stations


Title 47 - Telecommunication


Title 47: Telecommunication
PART 87—AVIATION SERVICES

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Subpart J—Flight Test Stations

§ 87.299   Scope of service.

The use of flight test stations is restricted to the transmission of necessary information or instructions relating directly to tests of aircraft or components thereof.

§ 87.301   Supplemental eligibility.

(a) The following entities are eligible for flight test station licenses:

(1) Manufacturers of aircraft or major aircraft components;

(2) A parent corporation or its subsidiary if either corporation is a manufacturer of aircraft or major aircraft components; or

(3) Educational institutions and persons primarily engaged in the design, development, modification, and flight test evaluation of aircraft or major aircraft components.

(b) Each application must include a certification sufficient to establish the applicant's eligibility under the criteria in paragraph (a) of this section.

[53 FR 28940, Aug. 1, 1988, as amended at 63 FR 68957, Dec. 14, 1998]

§ 87.303   Frequencies.

(a) These frequencies are available for assignment to flight test land and aircraft stations:

            kHz                MHz           MHz           MHz   3281.0\1\             123.175\2\    123.225\3\    123.400\2\                        123.200\3\    123.375\3\    123.450\3\ 

(b) These additional frequencies are available for assignment only to flight test stations of aircraft manufacturers:

            MHz                MHz           MHz           MHz  123.125\2\             123.275\3\    S123.425\3\   123.550\3\ 123.150\2\             123.325\3\    S123.475\3\   123.575\2\ 123.250\3\             123.350\3\    S123.525\3\ \1\ When R3E, H3E or J3E emission is used, the assigned frequency will  be 3282.4 kHz (3281.0 kHz carrier frequency).\2\ This frequency is available only to itinerant stations that have a  requirement to be periodically transferred to various locations.\3\ Mobile station operations on these frequencies are limited to an  area within 320 km (200 mi) of an associated flight test land station.

(c) These frequencies are available for equipment test, emergency and backup use with aircraft beyond the range of VHF propagation. Either H2B, J3E, J7B or J9W emission may be used.

Frequencies (carrier) available kHz:

                                   kHz     2851.0           8822.0  3004.0           10045.0  3443.0           11288.0  5451.0           11306.0  5469.0           13312.0  5571.0           17964.0  6550.0           21931.0 

(d)(1) Frequencies in the bands 1435–1525 MHz and 2360–2395 MHz are assigned in the mobile service primarily for aeronautical telemetry and associated telecommand operations for flight testing of aircraft and missiles, or their major components. The bands 2310–2320 MHz and 2345–2360 MHz are also available for these purposes on a secondary basis. Permissible uses of these bands include telemetry and associated telecommand operations associated with the launching and reentry into the Earth's atmosphere, as well as any incidental orbiting prior to reentry, of objects undergoing flight tests. In the band 1435–1525 MHz, the following frequencies are shared with flight telemetry mobile stations: 1444.5, 1453.5, 1501.5, 1515.5, and 1524.5 MHz. In the band 2360–2395 MHz, the following frequencies may be assigned for telemetry and associated telecommand operations of expendable and re-usable launch vehicles, whether or not such operations involve flight testing: 2364.5, 2370.5 and 2382.5 MHz. In the band 2360–2395 MHz, all other mobile telemetry uses shall not cause harmful interference to, or claim protection from interference from, the above uses.

(2) The authorized bandwidths for stations operating in the bands 1435.0–1525.0 MHz, 1525.0–1535.0 MHz and 2310.0–2390.0 MHz are normally 1, 3 or 5 MHz. Applications for greater bandwidths will be considered in accordance with the provisions of §87.135. Each assignment will be centered on a frequency between 1435.5 MHz and 1534.5 MHz or between 2310.5 MHz and 2389.5 MHz, with 1 MHz channel spacing.

(e) 121.500 MHz: Emergency and distress only.

[53 FR 28940, Aug. 1, 1988, as amended at 55 FR 4175, Feb. 7, 1990; 58 FR 44954, Aug. 25, 1993; 58 FR 67696, Dec. 22, 1993; 60 FR 37829, July 24, 1995; 62 FR 11107, Mar. 11, 1997; 68 FR 74388, Dec. 23, 2003; 69 FR 77950, Dec. 29, 2004; 71 FR 29818, May 24, 2006]

§ 87.305   Frequency coordination.

(a)(1) Each application for a new station license, renewal or modification of an existing license concerning flight test frequencies, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, must be accompanied by a statement from a frequency advisory committee. The committee must comment on the frequencies requested or the proposed changes in the authorized station and the probable interference to existing stations. The committee must consider all stations operating on the frequencies requested or assigned within 320 km (200 mi) of the proposed area of operation and all prior coordinations and assignments on the proposed frequency(ies). The committee must also recommend frequencies resulting in the minimum interference. The Committee must coordinate in writing all requests for frequencies or proposed operating changes in the 1435–1535 MHz and 2310–2390 MHz bands with the responsible Government Area Frequency Coordinators listed in the NTIA “Manual of Regulations and Procedures for Federal Radio Frequency Management.” In addition, committee recommendations may include comments on other technical factors and may contain recommended restrictions which it believes should appear on the license.

(2) The frequency advisory committee must be organized to represent all persons who are eligible for non-Government radio flight test stations. A statement of organization service area and composition of the committee must be submitted to the Commission for approval. The functions of any advisory committee are purely advisory to the applicant and the Commission, and its recommendations are not binding upon either the applicant or the Commission.

(b) These applications need not be accompanied by evidence of frequency coordination:

(1) Any application for modification not involving change in frequency(ies), power, emission, antenna height, antenna location or area of operation.

(2) Any application for 121.5 MHz.

[53 FR 28940, Aug. 1, 1988, as amended at 54 FR 11721, Mar. 22, 1989; 58 FR 44954, Aug. 25, 1993]

§ 87.307   Cooperative use of facilities.

(a) The Commission will license only one flight test land station per airport, except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section.

(b) Flight test land stations located at an airport are required to provide service without discrimination, on a cooperative maintenance basis, to anyone eligible for a flight test station license.

(c) When the licensee of a flight test land station intends to conduct flight tests at an area served by another flight test land station, which may result in interference, the licensees must coordinate their schedules in advance. If no agreement is reached, the Commission will determine the time division upon request by either licensee.

(d) Applicants for an additional flight test land station at an airport where such a station is already authorized may be required to submit a factual showing to include the following:

(1) Reasons why shared use of the currently licensed flight test land station is not possible; and

(2) Results of coordination with the current licensee of the flight test station at the airport demonstrating that an additional station can be accommodated without significant degradation of the reliability of existing facilities.

[53 FR 28940, Aug. 1, 1988, as amended at 63 FR 68958, Dec. 14, 1998]

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