ETSO-C159d

ED Decision 2020/011/R

Next Generation Satellite Systems (NGSS) Equipment

1 Applicability

This ETSO provides the requirements which next generation satellite systems (NGSS) equipment that is designed and manufactured on or after the date of this ETSO must meet in order to be identified with the applicable ETSO marking.

2 Procedures

2.1 General

The applicable procedures are detailed in CS-ETSO, Subpart A.

2.2 Specific

None.

3 Technical Conditions

3.1 Basic

3.1.1 Minimum Performance Standard

The standards are those provided in EUROCAE ED-243 ‘Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Avionics Supporting Next Generation Satellite Systems (NGSS)’, dated April, 2017.

Note: There are no MPS security requirements for NGSS equipment. However, a security risk assessment may be required at the time of installation, and if needed, security controls may be implemented in connected aircraft systems or addressed by flight crew procedures.

3.1.2 Environmental Standard

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.1.

3.1.3 Software

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.2.

3.1.4 Airborne Electronic Hardware

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.3.

3.2 Specific

The MPS allows for different equipment classes and subclasses as defined by EUROCAE ED-243. There are 6 applicable equipment classes and 11 equipment subclass components identified as shown in Tables 1A, 1B and Tables 2A, 2B of this ETSO. Tables 1A and 2A show the requirements for satellite communication (short burst data) (SATCOM (SBD)) equipment classes and subclass components, and Tables 1B and 2B show the requirements for satellite communication (swift Broadband) (SATCOM (SBB)) equipment classes and subclass components. The manufacturer must declare the equipment class requirements from those identified in the applicable table of this ETSO. The equipment configuration shall satisfy the relevant requirements of the
EUROCAE ED-243 minimum operational performance standards (MOPS) as identified in Tables 1A and 1B and 2A and 2B of this ETSO.

Table 1A — Equipment Class Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBD)

Table 1B — Equipment Class Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)

Table 2A — Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBD)

Table 2B — Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)

This ETSO standard applies to equipment intended for long-range communication services, procedural and continental communication services, aeronautical mobile satellite (route) services (AMS(R)S) by means of satellite communications between AES, corresponding satellites, and ground earth stations (GES). The NGSS supports voice and data communications between aircraft users and ground-based users, such as air navigation service providers (ANSPs) and aircraft operators.

The functionality of an NGSS supports four categories of communication service in the aircraft control domain (ACD) and/or aircraft information services domain (AISD). Two are safety of flight communication used for air traffic services (ATS) and aeronautical operational control (AOC) communication. The other two are aeronautical administrative communication (AAC) and special-purpose aeronautical passenger communication (APC) under the physical or virtual access control of the flight crew.

EUROCAE ED-243, Normative Appendix E, also contains provisions for supporting a
non-priority communications service known as passenger information and entertainment services (PIES). EUROCAE ED-243, Normative Appendix E, states that non-priority services are outside the scope of that Appendix. However, PIES communications, if supported, must be partitioned from communications in the ACD and AISD for security reasons. Therefore, PIES communications are non-ETSO functions, and equipment that supports shared ACD and PIES communications must provide security partitioning of the PIES functionality from priority communications services in the ACD and AISD in accordance with this ETSO.

See paragraphs 3.1.3, 3.1.4 and 3.2.1 of this ETSO for specific additional data, design/security assurance and verification requirements related to the required security partitioning for equipment intended to support shared ACD/AISD and PIES communications.

NGSS equipment is intended for procedural/continental airspace area operations. The failure conditions specified in paragraph 3.2.1 of this ETSO have been determined based on NGSS equipment that supplements or complements primary HF/VHF voice or data communications in procedural/continental airspace area operations, and on equipment that provides ‘Segregation & arbitration’ as described in EUROCAE ED-243, Appendix E, Section 1.3.4, or the equivalent functionality. Use of NGSS equipment in other operating environments (for example, high-density terminal/en route airspace) may impact equipment performance and safety considerations.

3.2.1 Failure Condition Classification

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.4.

A loss or malfunction of the security partitioning required by paragraph 3.2 of this ETSO that enables unauthorised or inadvertent access to ACD or AISD communications from outside the ACD or AISD is a major failure condition.

A loss or malfunction of the functions defined in paragraph 3.1.1 of this ETSO, except for a loss or malfunction of the security partitioning required by paragraph 3.2 of this ETSO, is a minor failure condition.

Note: The use of NGSS equipment as the sole means of routine ATS communication may change the classification of the failure conditions.

4 Marking

4.1 General

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 1.2.

4.2 Specific

For valid combinations of system component markings, see Table 3 below.

Table 3 — Valid Combinations of System Components

5 Availability of Referenced Documents

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 3.

[Amdt ETSO/11]

[Amdt ETSO/13]

[Amdt ETSO/16]