STA Narrative Statement

0579-EX-PL-2014 Text Documents

Astronics AeroSat Corporation

2014-08-01ELS_151926

$E X PE R I M E N T A L ST A A PPL I C A T I O N $VWURQLFV$HUR6DW&RUSRUDWLRQ ³$VWURQLFV$HUR6DW´ KHUHE\VHHNVH[SHULPHQWDOVSHFLDO WHPSRUDU\DXWKRULW\ ³67$´ IRURSHUDWLRQRIXSWRILYH DLUFUDIWHDUWKVWDWLRQV ³$(6V´ LQWKH 14.0-14.5 GHz band, pursuant to Section 5RIWKH&RPPLVVLRQ¶V5XOHV&)5IRU evaluation and demonstration purposes. The proposed experimental operations will be FRQGXFWHG ZLWKLQ WKH FRQWLJXRXV 8QLWHG 6WDWHV ³&2186´ IRU D SHULRG RI VL[ PRQWKV IRU stationary, vehicle-mounted JURXQG PRELOH DQG IOLJKW WHVWLQJ $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V UHTXHVW IRU such experimental authority is consistent with that granted to other AES manufacturers and operators for similar testing and demonstrations.1 I. INTRODUC TION Astronics AeroSat is a leader in aviation communications solutions for commercial aircraft and business jets. For more than a decade, Astronics AeroSat has been designing and manufacturing satellite communications antenna systems used to provide in-flight broadband Internet connectivity and video services for passengers and crew in every region of the world. $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V +5 .X-band antenna system provides a worldwide in-flight communications solution for the connected traveler. The Commission previously approved operation of the HR6400 Ku-band antenna system for aeronautical mobile-satellite service ³$066´ RSHUDWLRQVLQWKH-14.5 GHz band in experimental and commercial AMSS blanket licenses granted to Gogo, LLC and Row44, Inc. for operations of in-flight connectivity systems that incorporate the HR6400 AESs.2 1 See, e.g., Panasonic Avionics Corporation, Experimental Radio Station License and Construction Permit, Call Sign WF2XMD, File No. 0184-EX-ML- ³ PAC Experimental ´ 2 See, e.g., Gogo LLC, File Nos. SES-LIC-2012061900574, SES-AMD-20120731-00709, Call Sign E120106 (granted March 8, 2013); Row 44 Inc., File Nos. SES-LIC-20080508-00570, SES- -1-$

$two-degrees spacing policies and rules governing Ku-band AES operations. Astronics AeroSat is developing an application for long-WHUP RSHUDWLQJ DXWKRULW\ XQGHU WKH &RPPLVVLRQ¶V HDUWK VWDWLRQVDERDUGDLUFUDIW ³(6$$´ UXOHVsee 47 C.F.R. §25.227. I I. D ESC R IP T I O N O F T H E H R6400 A ES A N T E N N A SYST E M The HR6400 antenna system will be used to provide broadband Internet access and other connectivity to passengers and crew aboard business aviation and VVIP aircraft. The system is comprised of an antenna subsystem, an internally mounted antenna control modem unit ³$&08´ DQGDKLJKSRZHUWUDQVFHLYHU ³+37´ ZKLFKDUHFRQQHFWHGWKURXJKUDGLRIUHquency ³5)´ FDEOLQJ $Q RYHUYLHZ RI $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V LQ-flight connectivity Ku-band antenna system is below and a detailed description is attached hereto in the Technical Appendix. The antenna and radome are mounted externally on the top of the aircraft fuselage. The radome is transparent to the Ku-band radio waves and protects the HR6400 Ku-band antenna system from the outside environment. The HR6400 antenna system includes mechanically steered antenna array that receives and transmits signals and a low noise block amplifier (LNA). It is mounted on a positioner with an elevation over azimuth gimbal, and a polarization converter XQLW ³3&8´ LVLQVWDOOHGLQVLGHWKHDQWHQQDSee Figure 1. -3-$

$I I I. D ESC R IP T I O N O F PR O P OSE D E X PE R I M E N T A L O P E R A T I O NS Astronics AeroSat seeks to conduct stationary, vehicle-mounted ground testing and in- flight testing throughout CONUS. Astronics AeroSat recognizes and accepts that operations under experimental STA are conducted on an unprotected, non-interference basis only and that they will be conditioned upon protection of co-frequency operations.3 In this connection, Astronics AeroSat will immediately cease operations to the extent harmful interference is caused to another user of the 14.0-14.5 GHz band. The general objectives of the proposed experimental operations are as follows: (i) LQWHJUDWLQJ DQG WHVWLQJ WKH $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V +5 .X-band antenna system in a new network configuration, (ii) demonstrating two-way, broadband connectivity in stationary, land mobile and in-flight modes, (iii) demonstrating that the HR6400 Ku-band antenna system meets the new requirements for Ku-EDQG(6$$VVHWIRUWKLQ6HFWLRQRIWKH&RPPLVVLRQ¶VUXOHV and (iv) verifying the technical viability of the HR6400 Ku-band antenna system on smaller business aviation and VVIP aircraft. A. Stationary and V ehicle-Mounted G round T esting Astronics AeroSat seeks experimental STA for stationary and vehicle-mounted ground testing and demonstration. Fully stationary ground testing and demonstration will occur at WHPSRUDU\ IL[HG SRVLWLRQV DW $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V IDFLOLW\ DW 1HZ +DPSVKLUH 5RXWH $ Amherst, NH 03031. Additional testing may be conducted on a three-axis motion platform that simulates aircraft, pitch and roll. Vehicle-mounted ground testing and demonstration will occur within 100 miles of the Astronics AeroSat facility. 3 See infra, Part V. -5-$

$Further demonstration and testing may occur intermittent at other locations within CONUS (e.g., potential customer or trade show sites). In all cases, consistent with the &RPPLVVLRQ¶V UXOHV IRU YHKLFOH-PRXQWHG HDUWK VWDWLRQV ³90(6V´ see 47 C.F.R. §25.226, unless coordinated Astronics AeroSat terminals will not operate within line of sight vicinity of raGLRDVWURQRP\ ³5$6´ VLWHV RU ZLWKLQ NP RI 1$6$ 7UDFNLQJ DQG 'DWD 5HOD\ 6DWHOOLWH 6\VWHP ³7'566´ VLWHV $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW LQWHQGV WR SXUVXH FRRUGLQDWLRQ ZLWK 5$6 DQG TDRSS facilities in the context of obtaining long-term blanket license authority under the &RPPLVVLRQ¶V(6$$UXOHV Extensive receive-only tests will be conducted to verify antenna performance and system integration prior to any transmit operation. Astronics AeroSat will then perform two-way testing of receive and transmit operations to evaluate, optimize and demonstrate return link performance. B. In-F light T esting Astronics AeroSat also seeks experimental STA for in-flight testing during the relevant period. In-flight testing will involve verification of antenna performance within the new network under real-world operating conditions. Testing and evaluation on business aviation and VVIP airframes will ensure that the AES will function as expected under different flight dynamics and operational circumstances. Astronics AeroSat will conduct in-flight testing only in areas that are outside the exclusion zones for RAS and TDRSS sites and in accordance with applicable coordination agreements and Commission Rules. Astronics AeroSat will examine the following performance objectives during in-flight testing: (i) geographic mapping and automated shut-off; (ii) reliability of data link; (iii) two-way data link performance and coverage; (iv) receive-only video link performance and coverage; (v) antenna pointing performance; (vi) Doppler correction; and (vii) network management and -6-$

$operation. The in-flight testing will be limited in duration, including only several days during the experimental STA period. The aircraft will operate in selected testing conditions under close control and supervision by Astronics AeroSat personnel. I V. SA T E L L I T E A N D H U B E A R T H ST A T I O N $VWURQLFV$HUR6DWZLOOXWLOL]HFRPPHUFLDO)L[HG6DWHOOLWH6HUYLFH ³)66´ FDSDFLW\IRULWV proposed experimental operations. Specifically, capacity will be leased on the Satmex 6 satellite, located at the 113° W.L. orbital location. The operator of Satmex 6, Satélites Mexicanos S.A. de &9 ³6DWPH[´ KDV UHYLHZHG WKH WHFKQLFDO FKDUDFWHULVWLFV RI $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V SURSRVHG experimental operations with Satmex 6 and confirmed that such operations are consistent with 6DWPH[¶V FRRUGLQDWLRQ DJUHHPHQWV DQG ZLOO QRW UHVXOW LQ XQDFFHSWDEOH LQWHUIHUHQFH WR RWKHU satellite operations within +/- 6 degrees of Satmex 6.4 The hub earth station for the proposed experimental operations is located in Houston, Texas (Call Sign E030279). This earth station is a licensed FSS earth station operated by Harris CapRock Corporation, which also operates a comprehensive network control facility at its Houston headquarters location. Network control for Astronics Aero6DW¶VSURSRVHGH[SHULPHQWDO operations will be provided pursuant to an agreement with Harris CapRock, subject to Astronics $HUR6DW¶VXOWLPDWHGLUHFWLRQDQGFRQWURO V. PR O T E C T I O N O F USE RS I N T H E 14.0-14.5 G H z B A N D A N D O T H E R C O N D I T I O NS The Commission established service rules for ESAA terminals in Section 25.227, 47 &)5ZKLFK LQFRUSRUDWHWKH&RPPLVVLRQ¶VZHOO-settled two-degree satellite spacing requirements and ensure protection for co-IUHTXHQF\ RSHUDWLRQV $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V $(6 terminals will transmit at off-axis EIRP levels no greater than the levels produced by ESAAs. 4 See Technical Appendix (attached). -7-$

$7RWKHH[WHQWWKDW$VWURQLFV$HUR6DW¶VH[SHULPHQWDORSHUDWLRQVFDXVHXQDFFHSWDEOHLQWHUIHUHQFH with any adjacent FSS operators, Astronics AeroSat will cease transmissions immediately. Astronics AeroSat acknowledges that non-JHRVWDWLRQDU\ RUELW ³1*62´ V\VWHPV DUH permitted to operate in the Ku-band. However, no NGSO systems are authorized or FRQWHPSODWHG IRU RSHUDWLRQ GXULQJ WKH SHULRG RI $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V SURSRVHG H[SHUimental operations. In addition, Astronics AeroSat has determined that there are no FCC-licensed terrestrial radio services in the 14.0- *+] EDQG ZLWK ZKLFK $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V SURSRVHG experimental operations could conflict. For purposes of this experimental STA, Astronics AeroSat terminals will not operate within line-of-sight vicinity of RAS sites and during observation periods. Similarly, Astronics AeroSat will avoid experimental operations within 125 km of TDRSS earth stations used for space research. Astronics AeroSat also notes certain special conditions set forth in the recent grant of the PAC Experimental , including a restriction on operations below 14050 MHz in the area of White Sands Missile Range, NM, (410 KM surrounding 323240N 1063648W)5 and on-ground operations unless appropriate safety protocols are in place.6 Astronics AeroSat acknowledges and accepts that similar conditions will be imposed on its proposed experimental operations. V I. SUPE R V ISI O N A N D C O N T R O L For purposes of the proposed experimental operations, the Astronics AeroSat terminals ZLOO EH RSHUDWHG XQGHU $VWURQLFV $HUR6DW¶V IXOO VXSHUYLVLRQ DQG FRQWURO 7KH PRELOH SKRQH number listed below is the best point of contact for personnel involved in the testing and located onsite with the terminals. It will be in the possession of Astronics AeroSat personnel manning 5 See PAC Experimental at Special Condition 1. 6 See id. at Special Condition 4. -8-$

$DQ\WHVWV$VWURQLFV$HUR6DW¶VQHWZRUNFRQWUROFHQWHUZLOODOVRKDYHWKHDELOLW\WR DGGUHVV DQ\ operational issues in real time. The full point of contact information for the proposed experimental operations is as follows: Primary Points of Contact: Astronics AeroSat Test Site Supervisor Mobile Phone Number: +1 (603) 400-2098 Networks Operations Center Coordinator Office Phone Number: +1 (603) 879-0205 Facsimile Phone Number: +1 (603) 386-6488 Company Address: Astronics AeroSat Corporation Suite #2B 62 New Hampshire 101A Amherst, NH 03031 Email Address: NOC@astronics.com $VWURQLFV$HUR6DW¶VSRLQWRIFRQWDFWZLOOKDYHDFFHVVWRDOOQHWZRUNIXQFWLRQVDQGWKHDELOLW\Dnd authority to cease all transmissions from the terminals wherever they are located. V I I. C O N C L USI O N 7KH&RPPLVVLRQVKRXOGJUDQW$VWURQLFV$HUR6DW¶VUHTXHVWIRUDQH[SHULPHQWDO67$ for experimental operation of up to five (5) AESs for testing and demonstration purposes. The proposed experimental operations would allow Astronics AeroSat to test and demonstrate the performance and operational characteristics and verify the commercial and technical viability of its HR6400 Ku-band antenna system in a new network configuration and for a new market segment. Grant of this application would serve the public interest for the reasons stated herein. -9-$

Document Created: 1450-12-18 00:00:00
Document Modified: 1450-12-18 00:00:00