INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL AVIATIN SQUARE, 1000 SHERBROOKE STREET WEST, MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA H3A 2R2 FACSIMILE TEL.: (514) 288-4772 CABLES: ICAO MONTREAL TELEX: 05-24513 SITA:YULCAYA PRES AK/522 8 August 1996 LE 4/49.1 To: Representatives on The Council From: President of the Council Subject: Offer of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLO- NASS) from the Government of the Russian Federation On 24 July 1996, the Director of the Federal Aviation Authority of Russia, Mr. G.N.Zaitsev, tramsmitted to me a letter dated 4 June 1996 from Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Mr. N.P.Tsakh, containing an enhanced proposal from the Government of the Russian Federation for providing world civil aviation with a stan- dard-accuracy channel through the Russian global navigation satellite system (GLONASS). At the 15th meeting of its 147th Session on March 1996, the Coun- cil had considered the subject and had decided the terms on which the offer from the Russian Federation should be accepted. As an enhanced offer dated 4 June 1994 meets the conditions of the Council, I have confirmed in a letter dated July 1996 to the Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation that the arrangements set forth in above-menti- oned offer are acceptable to ICAO. As stated in the exchange of letters, the offer from the Russian Federation and my letter of acceptance will constitute a mutual aggre- ement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Inter- national Civil Aviation Organization concerning the GLONASS satellite navigation system I have attached for your information copies of above-metioned letters. Assad Kotaite ATTACHMENT MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT Moscow, 4 June 1996 OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION To: Dr. Assad Kotaite President of the Council of ICAO Montreal Sir, This letter supersedes my letter of 5 February 1996. The introduction of satellite technologies into world civil avia- tion operations marks a new stage in the practical implementation of the future CNS?ATM concept developed by the International Civil Avia- tion Organization (ICAO). On behalf of the Russian Federation, I would like to congratulate ICAO on its great achievements in planning for the future air navigation system and express my hopes for its success- ful implementation in practice. One of the most important parts of the future air navigation sys- tem is the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). At the Tenth ICAO Air Navigation Conference in 1991, the Government of the USSR of- fered the world aviation community free use of the GLONASS global sa- tellite navigation system. It was guaranteed that the system would operate for at least 15 years from the time of its full deployment in 1995. The Russian Federation has now completed the full deployment of the space constellation and ground control system for GLONASS, and the GLONASS system is operational, providing the intended aircraft positi- on determination performance. Using the powers conferred on me, I would like to confirm, on be- half of the Government of the Russian Federation, the proposal made at the Tenth Air Navigation Conference concerning the provision of stan- dard-accuracy GLONASS channel to the world aviation community on a non-discriminatory basis for a period of at least 15 years with no di- rect charges collected from users, subject to the allocaton of resour- ces, as required under the legislation of the Russian Federation. this channel will be accessible to all civil aviation users and will provi- de position information with an accuracy of up to 60 metres in the ho- rizontal plane (with a probability of 0.997) and up to 75 metres in the vertical plane (with a probability of 0.997). It is not intended that any methods will be used to degrade accuracy. The Russian Federation will take all necessary measures to main- tain the integrity and reliability of the service and expects that it will e able to provide at least 6 years' notice prior to termination of service. To ensure GNSS use by world civil aviation, The Russian Federati- on is prepared to cooperate in every way with ICAO in preparing app- ropriate GNSS Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in accordan- ce with the provisions of Article 37 of the Chicago Convention, and also to keep ICAO constantly informed of the operational status of the GLONASS system. The Russian Federation hopes that the SARPs developed by ICAO will be compatible with GLONASS system characteristics and, converse- ly, that the various States will be free to intriduce the augmentati- ons which they require to increase the effectiveness of GLONASS use, in accordance with the ICAO SARPs. The Russian Federation will also undertake a continuing exchange of information with ICAO regarding the operation of GLONASS to assist the ICAO Council in carrying out its responsibilities under the Chica- go Convention. The provision of the GLONASS system to the world aviation commu- nity is not intended in any way to limit the right of any State to control aircraft operations and enforce flight safety regulations in its sovereign airspace. Since ICAO is to act as the international co-ordinating body for the global implementation of the future air navigation sysrem, we are prepared to conclude an agreement with ICAO for the use of the GLONASS system by the world aviation community as an element of the GNSS with the above-mentioned characteristics. I would be grateful if you would confirm that the International Civil Aviation Organization is satisfied with the positions set out above. If that is the case, this letter and your reply will constitute a mutual agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the International Civil Aviation Organization concerning the GLO- NASS satellite navigation system. Yours truly, N.P. Tsakh Minister of Transport Ref.: LE 4/49.1 29 July 1996 To: Mr. N.P. Tsakh Minister of Transport Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation Sadovaja Samotechnaja, 10 101438 Moscow GSP-4 Sir, I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 4 June which supersedes your letter of 5 February 1996. The letter of 4 June 1996 reads as follows: "This letter supersedes my letter of 5 February 1996. The introduction of satellite technologies into world civil avia- tion operations marks a new stage in the practical implementation of the future CNS?ATM concept developed by the International Civil Avia- tion Organization (ICAO). On behalf of the Russian Federation, I would like to congratulate ICAO on its great achievements in planning for the future air navigation system and express my hopes for its success- ful implementation in practice. One of the most important parts of the future air navigation sys- tem is the global navigation satellite system (GNSS). At the Tenth ICAO Air Navigation Conference in 1991, the Government of the USSR of- fered the world aviation community free use of the GLONASS global sa- tellite navigation system. It was guaranteed that the system would operate for at least 15 years from the time of its full deployment in 1995. The Russian Federation has now completed the full deployment of the space constellation and ground control system for GLONASS, and the GLONASS system is operational, providing the intended aircraft positi- on determination performance. Using the powers conferred on me, I would like to confirm, on be- half of the Government of the Russian Federation, the proposal made at the Tenth Air Navigation Conference concerning the provision of stan- dard-accuracy GLONASS channel to the world aviation community on a non-discriminatory basis for a period of at least 15 years with no di- rect charges collected from users, subject to the allocaton of resour- ces, as required under the legislation of the Russian Federation. this channel will be accessible to all civil aviation users and will provi- de position information with an accuracy of up to 60 metres in the ho- rizontal plane (with a probability of 0.997) and up to 75 metres in the vertical plane (with a probability of 0.997). It is not intended that any methods will be used to degrade accuracy. The Russian Federation will take all necessary measures to main- tain the integrity and reliability of the service and expects that it will e able to provide at least 6 years' notice prior to termination of service. To ensure GNSS use by world civil aviation, The Russian Federati- on is prepared to cooperate in every way with ICAO in preparing app- ropriate GNSS Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in accordan- ce with the provisions of Article 37 of the Chicago Convention, and also to keep ICAO constantly informed of the operational status of the GLONASS system. The Russian Federation hopes that the SARPs developed by ICAO will be compatible with GLONASS system characteristics and, converse- ly, that the various States will be free to intriduce the augmentati- ons which they require to increase the effectiveness of GLONASS use, in accordance with the ICAO SARPs. The Russian Federation will also undertake a continuing exchange of information with ICAO regarding the operation of GLONASS to assist the ICAO Council in carrying out its responsibilities under the Chica- go Convention. The provision of the GLONASS system to the world aviation commu- nity is not intended in any way to limit the right of any State to control aircraft operations and enforce flight safety regulations in its sovereign airspace. Since ICAO is to act as the international co-ordinating body for the global implementation of the future air navigation sysrem, we are prepared to conclude an agreement with ICAO for the use of the GLONASS system by the world aviation community as an element of the GNSS with the above-mentioned characteristics. I would be grateful if you would confirm that the International Civil Aviation Organization is satisfied with the positions set out above. If that is the case, this letter and your reply will constitute a mutual agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the International Civil Aviation Organization concerning the GLO- NASS satellite navigation system." At the 15th Meeting of its 147th Session on 14 March 1996, the Council of ICAO had considered this matter and the terms on which the offer of the Russian Federation should be accepted. Based on the deci- sion of the Council at that meeting, I am pleased to inform you that the arrangements set forth in the offer are acceptable to the interna- tional Civil Aviation Organization. Accordingly, I confirm that your letter dated 4 June 1996 and my present letter of acceptance constitu- te a mutual aggreement between the Government of the Russian Federati- on and the International Civil Aviation Organization concerning the GLONASS satellite navigation system. Your offer as well as my present letter of acceptance, will be communicated to all ICAO Contracting States. Accept, Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. Assad Kotaite.