ATS.OR.400 Aeronautical mobile service (air-ground communications) – general

(a)An air traffic services provider shall use voice or data link, or both, in air–ground communications for air traffic services purposes.

(b)When air-ground voice communications are based on 8,33 kHz channel spacing, an air traffic services provider shall ensure that:

(1)all items of equipment for air–ground voice communications include the 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability and are able to tune to 25 kHz spaced channels;

(2)all voice frequency assignments have the 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability;

(3)the procedures applicable to aircraft equipped with radios having the 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability and to aircraft which are not equipped with such equipment, subject to transfer between air traffic services units, are specified in the letters of agreement between those ATS units;

(4)aircraft not equipped with radios having the 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability can be accommodated, provided they can be safely handled within the capacity limits of the air traffic management system on UHF or on 25 kHz frequency assignments; and

(5)it communicates, on an annual basis, to the Member State that has designated it their plans for the handling of State aircraft which are not equipped with radios having the 8,33 kHz channel spacing capability, taking into account the capacity limits associated with the procedures published by the Member States in their national aeronautical information publications (AIPs).

(c)When direct pilot–controller two-way voice or data link communications are used for the provision of air traffic control service, recording facilities shall be provided by the air traffic services provider on all such air– ground communication channels.

(d)When direct air–ground two-way voice or data link communications are used for the provision of flight information service, including aerodrome flight information service (AFIS), recording facilities on all such air– ground communication channels shall be provided by the air traffic services provider, unless otherwise prescribed by the competent authority.