Dear Michael Lynch, Chairman of 802.18,

The RTCA Special Committee SC-202 has been tasked by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to identify and evaluate issues associated with passenger wireless devices on aircraft (further background information included below). In response, the committee developed guidance documents RTCA DO-294 and DO-307.

The committee’s first document DO-294 defines and recommends a process by which aircraft operators and/or manufacturers may assess the risk of interference due to specific Transmitting Portable Electronic Device (T‑PED) technologies within any aircraft type and model. The process is envisioned as a cooperative effort between aircraft operators, aircraft manufacturers, avionics manufacturers, and T‑PED manufacturers, with the aircraft operator having overall responsibility. The process provides a means for aviation regulatory authorities, aircraft operators, aircraft manufacturers, PED manufacturers, and others as appropriate, to determine acceptable and enforceable policies and processes for the allowance of passenger and crew use of T‑PEDs. The second document DO-307 addresses aircraft design recommendations that lead to aircraft tolerance to both intentional RF transmissions and spurious RF emissions from PEDs.

In an effort to extend and further enhance this effort, the FAA and RTCA instructed SC-202 to seek collaboration with appropriate wireless industry associations and consumer electronics manufacturers to better evaluate new technologies as well as facilitate solutions and/or management strategies that would support emerging wireless systems potentially used on-board aircraft. These emerging systems are designed to provide dedicated support for passenger mobile phones and laptops during flight, and are gaining momentum in many areas of the world. The FAA believes there is potential mutual benefit in dialog between the aviation industry represented by RTCA SC-202 and the consumer electronics industry, potentially leading to consensus alternatives to address the impact of RF emissions from portable electronic devices that may be used on aircraft and facilitate use of existing and emerging wireless technology in aircraft environments. These consensus alternatives are to be included in an RTCA SC-202 guidelines document to be published October 2008.

A collaborative discussion was held with members of RTCA SC-202 and the WiFi Alliance which resulted in the conclusion that WiFi devices meet or exceed the requirements for aircraft tolerance to both intentional RF transmissions and spurious RF emissions. The WiFi Alliance however felt that as an interoperability alliance, WFA has less to do with regulatory compliance than IEEE 802.18 which is a radio regulatory body. Thus it is proposed that the documentation to support the emissions compatibility of WiFi devices would come via IEEE 802.18.

The situation and goals of SC-202 with respect to PED RF emissions are described in the enclosed overview briefing. Dr. Frank Whetten is a member of RTCA SC-202 and the WiFi Alliance, as well as IEEE 802.18. Dr. Whetten can review the briefing materials with you and answer any questions you may have on the desired results.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Best regards,

Dave Carson Jamie Fowler

Boeing Commercial Airplanes US Airways

Phone: 425-717-6248 Phone: 704-359-2602

Email: david.p.carson@boeing.com Email: james.fowler@usairways.com

Background on RTCA and Special Committee SC-202

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requested that RTCA, Inc. form a special committee to present an up-to-date evaluation of the use of portable electronic devices (PEDs) on board civil aircraft with emphasis on intentional transmitters such as devices enabled with cellular technologies, wireless RF network devices, and other wireless-enabled devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). The committee refers to such PEDs as transmitting PEDs, or “T PEDs”, as distinct from non-transmitting PEDs, such as compact disk players and calculators. The overall class of PEDs includes both T PEDs and the traditional non-transmitting PEDs.

The committee included representatives from consumer electronic device manufacturers, avionics manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, aircraft operators, pilot and flight attendant associations, regulatory agencies, and related industry associations.

RTCA, Incorporated is a not-for-profit corporation formed to advance the art and science of aviation and aviation electronic systems for the benefit of the public. The organization functions as a Federal Advisory Committee and develops consensus-based recommendations on contemporary aviation issues. RTCA’s objectives include but are not limited to:

· Coalescing aviation system user and provider technical requirements in a manner that helps government and industry meet their mutual objectives and responsibilities

· Analyzing and recommending solutions to the system technical issues that aviation faces as it continues to pursue increased safety, system capacity, and efficiency