For the purpose of this Regulation, the definitions set out in Article 2 of Regulation (EC) No 549/2004 shall apply. The following definitions shall also apply:

1. (1)

   ‘channel’ means a numerical designator used in conjunction with voice communication equipment tuning, which allows unique identification of the applicable radio frequency and associated channel spacing;

2. (2)

   ‘8,33 kHz channel spacing’ means a channel spacing where the nominal channel centre frequencies are separated in increments of 8,33 kHz;

3. (3)

   ‘radio’ means any installed, portable or handheld device designed to transmit and/or receive transmissions in the VHF band;

4. (4)

   ‘central register’ means a register where the national frequency manager registers the necessary operational, technical and administrative details for each frequency assignment in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 677/2011;

5. (5)

   ‘8,33 kHz conversion’ means the replacement of a frequency assignment registered in the central register and using 25 kHz channel spacing by a frequency assignment using 8,33 kHz channel spacing;

6. (6)

   ‘frequency assignment’ means authorisation given by F1the CAA or a Member State to use a radio frequency or radio frequency channel under specified conditions for the purpose of operating radio equipment;

7. (7)

   ‘operator’ means a person, organisation or enterprise engaged in or offering to engage in an aircraft operation;

8. (8)

   ‘flights operated under visual flight rules’ means any flights operated under visual flight rules as defined in Annex 2 to the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (‘the Chicago Convention’);

9. (9)

   ‘State aircraft’ means any aircraft used by military, customs or police;

10. (10)

    ‘offset carrier operation’ means a case where the designated operational coverage cannot be ensured by a single ground transmitter and where, in order to minimise the interference problems, the signals from two or more ground transmitters are offset from the nominal channel centre frequency;

11. (11)

    ‘aircraft radio equipment’ means one or more radios located on board an aircraft and used by an authorised flight crew member during flight;

12. (12)

    ‘radio upgrade’ means the replacement of a radio by a radio of a different model or part number;

13. (13)

    ‘designated operational coverage’ means the volume of airspace in which a particular service is provided and in which the service is afforded frequency protection;

14. (14)

    ‘air traffic control unit’ (‘ATC unit’) means area control centre, approach control unit or aerodrome control tower;

15. (15)

    ‘working position’ means the furniture and technical equipment at which a member of the air traffic services (‘ATS’) staff undertakes the tasks associated with his operational responsibilities;

16. (16)

    ‘radio-telephony’ means a form of radio-communication primarily intended for the exchange of information in the form of speech;

17. (17)

    ‘letter of agreement’ means an agreement between two adjacent ATS units that specifies how their respective ATS responsibilities are to be coordinated;

18. (18)

    ‘Integrated Initial Flight Plan Processing System’ (‘IFPS’) means a system within the European Air Traffic Management Network through which a centralised flight planning processing and distribution service, dealing with the reception, validation and distribution of flight plans, is provided within the airspace covered by this Regulation;

19. (19)

    ‘transport-type State aircraft’ means fixed wing State aircraft that are designed for the purpose of transporting persons and/or cargo;

20. (20)
    ‘airport operator’ means the managing body of an airport as defined in Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/937;
21. (21)

    ‘operational control communication’ means communication carried out by aircraft operators, which also affect air transport safety, regularity and efficiency of flights.