Aviation Equipment and the Application of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED)

The directive 2014/53/EU [1] formulates in contrast to the EMC directive 2014/30/EU [2] not only the essential requirement of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), but also the essential requirements of safety, health and efficient use of spectrum for any radio transmitting equipment for the European market. The radio equipment directive 2014/53/EU (RED) shall ensure that equipment is not causing any harm to the public and operates safely without interfering other communication services. Aeronautic equipment had been exempt from application of either directive. The applicability question is a bit more complex for aircraft equipment which transmits radio signals within non-aeronautic frequency bands, e.g. a Wi-Fi access point. Technically, the aircraft mounted access point should not interfere with the ground networks, for example when the aircraft is parking on ground. Annex I of the RED exempts products, parts and equipment on board aircraft which fall within the scope of the article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council [3]. This exception clearly applies to aeronautical equipment operating in the aeronautical frequency band. For equipment not covered by Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council [3] operating outside the aeronautical frequency band, the basic requirements are laid down in the RED. Since a decade, there are aeronautical devices, for example wireless access points for Wi-Fi, which transmit signals in the non-aeronautical radio frequency bands, but also could seemingly fall under the scope of the RED and the telecommunication regime. This leads to the question if and how far the RED is applicable. Unnecessary duplication of qualifications against aviation and also non-aviation standards, for example for demonstrating electromagnetic compatibility has to be avoided strictly in order to achieve EMC and avoid incompatibilities. This paper clarifies the applicability of standards and the essential requirements of the RED. It explains measures which have to be taken to avoid conflicting with the technically relevant essential requirements of RED or the aviation requirements. It explains by the example of an aircraft-installed access point formal and technical needs of equipment qualification.