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ETSO-C159d

European Technical Standard Orders (CS-ETSO) · CS-ETSO · EAR revision 14 Aug 2026

IRImplementing rule

ETSO-C159d

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 ED243 '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 ED243 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)

Equipment Class IdentifierDescriptionRequirement
AES1AES using a single channel Satellite Data Unit (SDU) that contains one transceiver for data only applications. AES1 is a Short Burst Data (SBD)-only transceiver and cannot support voice calling. A passive Low Gain Antenna (LGA) is required for use with the AES1.Appendix D, Section 2.2.1.1 and Section 2.4 for the applicable test requirements
AES2AES2 is capable of multiple services using a single or dual channel SDU that contains one or two transceivers for data and/or voice applications. A passive LGA is required for use with the AES2.Appendix D, Section 2.2.1.2 and Section 2.4 for the applicable test requirements
AES3AES using two or more transceivers for multiple data and/or voice applications. A passive LGA is required for use with the AES3.Appendix D, Section 2.2.1.3 and Section 2.4 for the applicable test requirements
Table 1B - Equipment Class Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)Table 1B - Equipment Class Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)Table 1B - Equipment Class Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)
Equipment Class IdentifierDescriptionRequirement
AES4AES using an enhanced Low Gain Antenna (ELGA). AES4 configured as a complete system.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.1 and Section 2.4 for the applicable test requirements
AES6AES using a High Gain Antenna (HGA), transceiver, and Diplexer Low Noise Amplifier (DLNA).Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.2 and Section 2.4 for the applicable test requirements
AES7AES using an Intermediate Gain Antenna (IGA), transceiver, and DLNA.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.3 and Section 2.4 for the applicable test requirements
Table 2A - Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBD)Table 2A - Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBD)Table 2A - Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBD)
Subclass IdentifierDescriptionRequirement
LGAPassive LGA for use with AES1, AES2 or AES3.Appendix D, Section 2.2.3.1.1
Table 2B - Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)Table 2B - Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)Table 2B - Equipment Subclass Identifiers supporting SATCOM (SBB)
Subclass IdentifierDescriptionRequirement
HGAHGA for AES6.Appendix E, Section 2.2.3.1.2
IGAIGA for AES7.Appendix E, Section 2.2.3.1.2
6MATransceiver, SDU Configuration Module (SCM), SDU, Modified Type A (DMA) Diplexer Low Noise Amplifier (DLNA), and HGA for use with AES6.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.4
7MATransceiver, SDU, SCM, DMA DLNA, and IGA for use with AES7.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.6
6DTransceiver and DLNA combination includes SDU, High- Power Amplifier (HPA), DLNA, SCM, and HGA functions for use with AES6.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.8
7DTransceiver and DLNA combination includes SDU, HPA, DLNA, SCM, and IGA functions for use with AES7.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.9
6FTransceiver and Type F (DF) DLNA includes SDU, HPA, SCM, and HGA functions for use with AES6.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.5
7FTransceiver and DF DLNA includes SDU, HPA, SCM, and IGA functions for use with AES7.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.7
DMADLNA with standard Transmitter (Tx) filter configures with 6MA transceiver and HGA for use with AES6, or 7MA transceiver and IGA for use with AES7.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.10
DFDLNA with enhanced Tx filter configures with 6MA or 6F transceiver and HGA for use with AES6, or with 7MA or 7F transceiver and IGA for use with AES7.Appendix E, Section 2.2.1.1.11

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 nonpriority 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

CombinationsTransceiverTransceiverTransceiverTransceiverTransceiverTransceiver &DLNATransceiver &DLNADLNADLNAAntennaAntennaSystem
ValidEUROCAE ED-243 Normative AppendixSBDLBT6MA6F7MA7F6D7DDMADFLGA (passive)HGAIGAComplete
AES11Dx
AES12Dxx
AES23Dx
AES24Dxx
AES35Dx
AES36Dxxx
AES41Ex
AES62Exxx
AES63Exxx
AES64Exx
AES65Exxx
AES66Ex
AES77Exxx
AES78Exxx
AES79Exx
AES710Exxx
AES711Ex

5 Availability of Referenced Documents

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 3.

[Amdt ETSO/11]

[Amdt ETSO/13]

[Amdt ETSO/16]

IR · ETSO-C159d — CS-ETSO · ED Decision 2020/011/R · CS-ETSO Easy Access Rules · EAR revision 14 Aug 2026

All rules in SUBPART B -LIST OF ETSOS

Consolidated from the EASA Easy Access Rules (revision 14 Aug 2026, extracted 17 Aug 2026) for convenience. Not the official publication — verify against the Official Journal of the European Union and the EASA publications before operational use.

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