1  — Introduction

1. The provision of air traffic services (ATS) using SSR Mode S, initially in a central area of European airspace, will rely on a unique ICAO 24-bit aircraft address for selective interrogation of individual aircraft. The 24-bit aircraft address is also an essential element of the airborne collision and avoidance system, ACAS II. In addition, Mode S surveillance requires the reporting of aircraft identification as stated in the circular concerning Mode S airborne equipment requirements (AIC 17/2003, dated 27 NOV 2003).
2. The aircraft address shall be one of 16 777 214 twenty-four-bit aircraft addresses allocated by ICAO to the Sate of Registry or common mark registering authority and assigned as prescribed in ICAO Annex 10 (Appendix to Chapter 9, Part I, Volume III).
3. All Mode S equipped aircraft engaged in international civil aviation are required to have an aircraft identification feature as prescribed in ICAO Annex 10 (Volume IV, Chapter 2, 2.1.5.2.).
4. This circular provides guidance to ensure consistency regarding 24-bit aircraft addresses and the reporting of aircraft identification relevant to the operational introduction of Mode S Elementary and Enhanced Surveillance, in particular:
   1. Adherence to the world wide scheme for assignment of ICAO 24-bit Aircraft Addresses
   2. Correct setting of Aircraft Identification by flight crew.

2  — The ICAO 24-bit Aircraft Addresses

1. Instances occur of incorrect 24-bit aircraft addresses being installed/hard-wired on individual aircraft. This has happened not only on first installation of a Mode S transponder but also when a major modification has been made to the Mode S equipment, and following a change of State of Registration. Incorrect installation, such as setting the address to all zeros, or, inadvertent duplication of an address can pose a severe risk to flight safety. In particular, the airborne collision avoidance system, ACAS II, performs on the assumption that only a single, unique 24-bit address per airframe exists. the performance of ACAS II can be seriously degraded and in some instances disabled if an incorrect or duplicate address in installed on an aircraft.
2. Incorrect or duplicated 24-bit aircraft addresses will also undermine the effectiveness of surveillance services based on SSR Mode S.
3. It is essential that aircraft operators comply with the aircraft addresses assignment procedures of the State regulatory authority to which blocks of addresses have been allocated by ICAO.
4. The world wide addressing scheme has been designed so that, at any one time, no address is assigned to ore than one aircraft. Only one address can be assigned to an aircraft and it cannot be changed except under exceptional circumstances authorised by the State regulatory authority concerned.
5. When an aircraft changes State of Registry, the previously assigned address is to be relinquished and a new address assigned by the new registering authority.
6. It is essential that the aircraft address is periodically verified using ramp tests. Such checks must also be conducted when a major maintenance check has taken place and when the aircraft has changed registration, to ensure that a newly assigned address has been properly set.

3  — Correct Setting of Aircraft Identification

1. To comply with European airborne equipment requirements, Mode S transponder equipped aircraft must incorporate an Aircraft identification Feature. Correct setting of aircraft identification is essential for the correlation of radar tracks with flight plan date in the ATM and Airport operator ground systems. Initial operational trials using SSR Mode S have shown that many aircraft are transmitting incorrect aircraft identification, e.g. BC_1234 instead of ABC1234. Such erroneous setting of aircraft identification prohibit automatic flight plan correlation and, if perpetuated, will severely limit the effectiveness of Mode S to relieve the shortage of SSR codes.
2. In accordance with ICAO Doc 8168 (PANS-OPS, Vol I, Part VIII, 1.3), flight crew of aircraft equipped with Mode S having an aircraft identification feature shall set the aircraft identification in the transponder. This setting shall correspond to the aircraft identification specified in item 7 of the ICAO flight plan, or, if no flight plan has been filed, the aircraft registration.
3. Aircraft identification, not exceeding 7 characters is to be entered in item 7 of the flight plan and set in the aircraft as follows, either:
   1. The ICAO three-letter designator for the aircraft operating agency followed by the flight identification (e.g. KLM511, BAW213, JTR25), when in radiotelephony the call-sign used consists of the ICAO telephony designator for the operating agency followed by the flight identification (e.g. KLM 511, SPEEDBIRD 213, HERBIE 25), or
   2. The registration marking of the aircraft (e.g. EIAKO, 4XBCD, OOTEK), when:
      • in radiotelephony the call-sign used consists of the registration marking alone (e.g. EIAKO), or is preceded by the ICAO telephony designator for the operating agency (e.g. SVENAIR EIAKO),
      • the aircraft is not equipped with radio.

Note 1: No zeros, dashes or spaces are to be added when the Aircraft Identification consists of less than 7 characters.

Note 2: Appendix 2 to ICAO Doc 4444 (PANS-ATM) refers. ICAO designators and telephony designators for aircraft operating agencies are contained in ICAO Doc 8585.

4  — Further Information

1. Further information or guidance may be obtained from:
   Post:

   Belgian Civil Aviation Authority
   ATRIUM - 6^th floor
   Rue du Progrès / Vooruitgangstraat 56
   1210 Brussels
   BELGIUM

   TEL: +32 (0) 2 277 43 53 (Operations Department)

   TEL: +32 (0) 2 724 02 26 (Commercial Aviation Department)

   FAX: +32 (0) 2 777 42 57 (Operations Department)

   FAX: +32 (0) 2 703 06 71 (Commercial Aviation Department)

   Email: civilair@mobilit.fgov.be

   or

   Post:

   Belgocontrol
   Tervuursesteenweg 303
   1820 Steenokkerzeel
   BELGIUM

   TEL: +32 (0) 2 206 21 97 (Department O/ATS/S & PLA)

2. More general information concerning SSR Mode S in the context of the European Air Traffic Management programme (EATMP) is available at the Eurocontrol web site: www.eurocontrol.int/msa/

AIC 02/2008 is hereby cancelled.