An Integrated Spectrum-Engineering and Safety-Management Framework for VHF Air-Traffic-Service Frequency Migration: The Kolwezi Airport (FZQM) Case Study

Billy DIABASENGA KUSUAMINA; Albert KABASELE YENGA YENGA; Jean-Pierre FWAMBA MULUMBA; Stéphane MINGA MILOLO; Sion DIABASENGA LUYINDULA

المؤلفون

Billy DIABASENGA KUSUAMINA ETS, Ecole de Télédetection Spaciale, Doctoral School of Telecommunications and Space Remote Sensing, Department of Geomatics and Geodesy, Université Pédagogique Nationale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Albert KABASELE YENGA YENGA ETS, Ecole de Télédetection Spaciale, Doctoral School of Telecommunications and Space Remote Sensing, Department of Geomatics and Geodesy, Université Pédagogique Nationale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jean-Pierre FWAMBA MULUMBA ETS, Ecole de Télédetection Spaciale, Doctoral School of Telecommunications and Space Remote Sensing, Department of Geomatics and Geodesy, Université Pédagogique Nationale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Stéphane MINGA MILOLO ETS, Ecole de Télédetection Spaciale, Doctoral School of Telecommunications and Space Remote Sensing, Department of Geomatics and Geodesy, Université Pédagogique Nationale, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sion DIABASENGA LUYINDULA Civil Aviation Section, Institut Supérieur de Techniques Appliquées, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

الكلمات المفتاحية:

aeronautical VHF، designated operational coverage، electromagnetic compatibility، air traffic management، transition assurance، AFI region

الملخص

Background: Regional airport modernization frequently requires new aeronautical VHF assignments while legacy channels, neighboring stations, radio-navigation aids and operational habits remain active. Existing spectrum-planning and safety-management guidance is often applied in separate workstreams.
Objective: This study develops an integrated, auditable method combining International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) frequency planning, International Telecommunication Union (ITU) propagation and electromagnetic-compatibility principles, and safety management of operational change. The method is applied to Kolwezi Airport (FZQM), Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Methods: Candidate channels were screened against the AFI regional allotment plan, national channel-selection constraints, WGS-84 geodesic distances, designated operational coverage (DOC), ICAO cochannel separation criteria, adjacent-channel precautions, navigation-aid compatibility, third-order intermodulation products, and a safety-managed transition model.
Results: The preferred candidates are 118.900 MHz for Tower, 120.400 MHz for Approach (APP-I), and 121.700 MHz for Ground. The nearest publicly identified cochannel stations are 307.0, 979.6 and 593.7 NM away, compared with conservative screening minima of 206, 540 and 35 NM, yielding margins of 101.0, 439.6 and 558.7 NM. However, calculated intermodulation products at 116.1, 117.4 and 117.6 MHz fall within the VOR/ILS localizer band, requiring cavity filtering, antenna isolation and radiated testing.
Conclusions: The three assignments are technically admissible candidates, not final authorizations. Operational use remains conditional on official Frequency Finder/COM List 3 coordination, approved DOC and EIRP, field coverage and CEM tests, AIRAC publication, trained personnel, and an 84-day post-implementation assurance period with a conditional extension to 168 days.

التنزيلات

تنزيل البيانات ليس متاحًا بعد.

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