Definitions
Article 3
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. ‘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. ‘8,33 kHz channel spacing’ means a channel spacing where the nominal channel centre frequencies are separated in increments of 8,33 kHz;
3. ‘radio’ means any installed, portable or handheld device designed to transmit and/or receive transmissions in the VHF band;
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. ‘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. ‘frequency assignment’ means authorisation given by the 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. ‘operator’ means a person, organisation or enterprise engaged in or offering to engage in an aircraft operation;
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. ‘State aircraft’ means any aircraft used by military, customs or police;
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. ‘aircraft radio equipment’ means one or more radios located on board an aircraft and used by an authorised flight crew member during flight;
12. ‘radio upgrade’ means the replacement of a radio by a radio of a different model or part number;
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. ‘air traffic control unit’ (‘ATC unit’) means area control centre, approach control unit or aerodrome control tower;
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. ‘radio-telephony’ means a form of radio-communication primarily intended for the exchange of information in the form of speech;
17. ‘letter of agreement’ means an agreement between two adjacent ATS units that specifies how their respective ATS responsibilities are to be coordinated;
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. ‘transport-type State aircraft’ means fixed wing State aircraft that are designed for the purpose of transporting persons and/or cargo;
20. ‘airport operator’ means the managing body of an airport as defined in Council Regulation (EEC) No 95/93 ;
21. ‘operational control communication’ means communication carried out by aircraft operators, which also affect air transport safety, regularity and efficiency of flights.
OJ L 14, 22.1.1993, p. 1.
Words in Art. 3(6) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Air Traffic Management (Amendment etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/459), regs. 1(2), 311; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)