EUROPEAN ORGANISATION

FOR THE SAFETY OF AIR NAVIGATION

Specification Surveillance Data Exchange - Part 1

All Purpose Structured EUROCONTROL Surveillance Information Exchange
(ASTERIX)

Enclosure 1

EUROCONTROL Specification
for
Surveillance Data Exchange -
Part 1
All Purpose Structured
EUROCONTROL Surveillance
Information Exchange
(ASTERIX)

DOCUMENT IDENTIFIER : EUROCONTROL-SPEC-

Edition Number : 2.00

Edition Date : April 2012
Status : Draft Specification
Intended for : General Public
Category : EUROCONTROL Specification
 EUROCONTROL Specification for Surveillance Data Exchange - Part 1 All Purpose Structured EUROCONTROL
Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)

DOCUMENT CHARACTERISTICS

TITLE
EUROCONTROL Specification for Surveillance Data Exchange
- Part 1 All Purpose Structured EUROCONTROL Surveillance
Information Exchange (ASTERIX)
Publications Reference: SPEC-
ISBN Number:
Document Identifier Edition Number: 2.00
EUROCONTROL-SPEC- Edition Date: April 2012
Abstract
This document presents the general structure of the ASTERIX format.

Keywords
Data Exchange Messages SAC SIC
Data Category Data Field Data Block Data Item
ASTERIX UAP

Contact Person(s) Tel Unit

Dimitris Doukas +32-2-729 3460 DNM/COO/DCO/SRS
Alexander Engel +32-2-729 3355 DSS/REG/SES

STATUS, AUDIENCE AND ACCESSIBILITY

Status Intended for Accessible via
Working Draft  General Public  Intranet 
Draft  EUROCONTROL  Extranet 
Proposed Issue  Restricted  Internet (www.eurocontrol.int) 
Released Issue 

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 EUROCONTROL Specification for Surveillance Data Exchange - Part 1 All Purpose Structured EUROCONTROL
Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)

DOCUMENT APPROVAL
The following table identifies all management authorities who have successively approved the
present issue of this document.

AUTHORITY NAME AND SIGNATURE DATE

ASTERIX

Manager D. Doukas

SES Unit

Manager P. Green

DSS

Director L. Tytgat

On behalf of the Director General

by special delegation
B. Redeborn
Principal Director ATM

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Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)

DOCUMENT CHANGE RECORD

The following table records the complete history of the successive editions of the present
document.
EDITION EDITION
REASON FOR CHANGE PAGES AFFECTED
NUMBER DATE

Released November Adoption by the EUROCONTROL Permanent

Ed 1.0 1997 Commission

Working August 1998 Suppress RFS, units, add migration policy and
Draft compound data item structure.
Ed 1.1
Draft October  Where applicable the term Radar replaced by ALL
Ed 1.2 Surveillance
1998
 Introduction amended (1)
 X.121 reference suppressed. (2)
 Documents referenced in paragraph 2.2 updated
(2.2)
 Definitions, acronyms and abbreviations updated.(3)
 Characteristics of the data suppressed.(4)
 Data item symbolic reference changed.(4)
 UAP unique per Category as a rule.(4)
 Source Identification must be present in every
record.(4)
 Explicit Length data fields suppressed.(4)
 Conventions updated to be more general.(5)
 Annex A redesigned and changed to informative. (A)
 Annex B replaced by list of SACs affected to USA,
Canada & Mexico. (B)
 Annex C suppressed. (C)
Draft January  1.1 reworded ALL
Ed 1.21 1999  Explicit Length data fields re-introduced. (4)
 Reserved Expansion field added. (4)
 Migration Policy reworded. (7)
Draft March 1999  Editorial corrections ALL
Ed 1.22
Proposed September  Editorial corrections ALL
Ed 1.24 1999
Proposed November  SAC added for UK and for Ukraine 6.4
Ed 1.26 2000  Annex A updated
A
Working November  Editorial correction 4.1.1.5
Draft 2001  List of SAC removed
Ed 1.27 6.4.1

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Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)

 Annex A updated A
 Annex B removed B
Working December  Editorial corrections
Draft 2001  Annex A removed
Ed 1.28 A

Working February  Note on Reserved Expansion field added 4.2.6.4

Draft  Editorial corrections
Ed 1.29 2002 4.2.7.4

Released November  Document ID-sheet updated

Issue 2007  Signature Page updated
Ed 1.30  Status: Released Issue
Draft April 2012  Transposition into an EUROCONTROL All
Specification Specification. Successor of EUROCONTROL
Ed 2.00 Standard SUR.ET1.ST05.2000-STD-01-01
 Introduction of the traceability to the relevant Annex A
provisions of the Commission Implementing
Regulation (EU) No 1207/2011

Publications
EUROCONTROL Headquarters
96 Rue de la Fusée
B-1130 BRUSSELS

Tel: +32 (0)2 729 4715

Fax: +32 (0)2 729 5149
E-mail: [email protected]

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CONTENTS

DOCUMENT CHARACTERISTICS…………………..………..…………………………………...ii
DOCUMENT APPROVAL……………………………..………..…………………………………..iii
DOCUMENT CHANGE RECORD…………………...………..……………………………………iv
CONTENTS ………………………………………….………..……………………………………..vi
LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………..………..…………………………………....viii
LIST OF TABLES…………………………………..………..………………………………………ix
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY …………………………………...……………………………………….x

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................ 1
1.1 General..................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Scope ....................................................................................................................... 2

2. REFERENCES................................................................................................... 3

3. DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ...................................... 4

3.1 Definitions................................................................................................................ 4
3.2 Acronyms and Abbreviations ................................................................................ 5

4. DESCRIPTION AND PRINCIPLES OF ASTERIX ............................................. 6

4.1 Organisation of the Data ........................................................................................ 6
4.1.1 Data Categories ............................................................................................... 6
4.1.2 Data Items and Catalogue of Data Items....................................................... 8
4.1.3 Data Fields ....................................................................................................... 8
4.1.4 User Application Profile.................................................................................. 8
4.2 The General Message Structure ............................................................................ 9
4.2.1 General ............................................................................................................. 9
4.2.2 The Data Block ................................................................................................ 9
4.2.3 The Record..................................................................................................... 11
4.2.4 Standard Data Field Formats ....................................................................... 11
4.2.5 Non-Standard Data Fields ............................................................................ 14
4.2.6 Reserved Expansion Data Field................................................................... 14
4.2.7 Field Organisation......................................................................................... 15

5. CONVENTIONS ............................................................................................... 18
5.1 Bit Numbering ....................................................................................................... 18
5.2 Binary Values ........................................................................................................ 18
5.3 Time Management................................................................................................. 18

6. ASTERIX ADDRESSING SCHEME................................................................. 19

6.1 General................................................................................................................... 19
6.2 Syntax .................................................................................................................... 19

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6.3 Formats .................................................................................................................. 19

6.3.1 System Area Code (SAC).............................................................................. 19
6.3.2 System Identification Code (SIC)................................................................. 19
6.4 Assignment of the Systems Identifiers............................................................... 20
6.4.1 System Area Codes....................................................................................... 20
6.4.2 System Identification Codes ........................................................................ 20

7. ASTERIX MIGRATION POLICY ...................................................................... 21

7.1 General................................................................................................................... 21
7.2 Description ............................................................................................................ 21
7.2.1 Application Domain....................................................................................... 21
7.2.2 Version Management .................................................................................... 21
7.2.3 Modifications ................................................................................................. 23

ANNEX A. Traceability between ASTERIX Specifications and Commission

Implementing Regulation (EC) No 1207/2011 of 22/11/2011 ....................... 24

ANNEX B. ASTERIX Categories managed by RDE-TF ...................................... 26

ANNEX C. ASTERIX Categories coordinated with RDE-TF .............................. 28

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1 - Organisation of the Data ................................................................................................7
Figure 2 - Data Block Structure ....................................................................................................10
Figure 3 - Standard Data Fields Types (except compound) ......................................................12
Figure 4 - Compound Data Field Type .........................................................................................13
Figure 5 - Field Sequencing Organisation...................................................................................16
Figure 6 - Overall Record Structure .............................................................................................17

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LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 - Compliance matrix .........................................................................................................25
Table 2 - ASTERIX Categories managed by RDE-TF ..................................................................27
Table 3 - ASTERIX Categories coordinated with RDE-TF ..........................................................28

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This EUROCONTROL specification describes the basic rules and procedures to be applied when
implementing the ASTERIX data format for the transmission of surveillance related information.
It provides information on the way ASTERIX data is organised, defines the structure of ASTERIX
messages and specifies the format conventions to be respected when composing ASTERIX
records.
Finally the ASTERIX addressing scheme is defined as well as the procedure to be followed in the
evolution of ASTERIX Category definitions.
This EUROCONTROL specification is the successor of the EUROCONTROL Standard
SUR.ET1.ST05.2000-STD-01-01.

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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 General
This EUROCONTROL Specification describes the message structure, known
by the acronym ASTERIX, originally standing for “All Purpose STructured
EUROCONTROL Radar Information Exchange”, devised by the Study Group
on the exchange of surveillance related data between processors of ATC
systems. This group was a subgroup of the former Radar Systems Specialist
Panel (RSSP), whose responsibilities have been taken over by the
Surveillance Team (SURT) as from April 1994. ASTERIX was approved by the
former RSSP at their 15th Meeting held on 1/4 July 1986. The ASTERIX
Specification is now under the responsibility of the Surveillance Data
Exchange Task Force (RDE-TF), a working arrangement under the
EUROCONTROL CNS-Team. The expansion of the application domains of
ASTERIX beyond radar led to a modification of the significance of the
acronym ASTERIX, now standing for “All Purpose STructured
EUROCONTROL SuRveillance Information Exchange”.

Throughout this document the following conventions apply:

 Requirements using the operative verb "shall" must be implemented to
achieve the minimum objectives of this specification.
 Requirements using the operative verb "should" are recommended to
achieve the best possible implementation of this specification.
 Requirements using the operative verb "may" indicate options

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1.2 Scope
1.2.1 ASTERIX is an application/presentation protocol responsible for data definition
and data assembly developed to support the transmission and exchange of
surveillance related data.
Its purpose is to allow a meaningful transfer of information between two
application entities using a mutually agreed representation of the data to be
exchanged.
1.2.2 The ASTERIX Specification (consisting of this Part 1 as well as the category
definitions) refers to the Presentation and Application layers (layers six and
seven) as defined by the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) Reference
Model (International Standards Organization (ISO) Standard 7498) [Ref. 1].
1.2.3 The definition of the lower telecommunication support layers (layers one to
five) is out of the scope of the ASTERIX Specification. Transmission of
ASTERIX coded surveillance information can make use of any available
communication medium, for instance a packet switched Wide Area Network
(WAN) as well as a Local Area Network (LAN).
1.2.4 The lower telecommunication protocol levels will be agreed between the
partners of the data exchange.
1.2.5 The ASTERIX Specification, as a Presentation protocol, defines the structure
of the data to be exchanged over the communication medium, from the
encoding of every bit of information up to the organisation of the data within a
block of data.
1.2.6 Considering that there is information common to all systems (for instance
position, Mode-A Code and Mode-C Code information), ASTERIX specifies
minimum requirements at the Application level, so as to ease data exchanges
between heterogeneous applications. The communication between two
different systems (even located in different countries) is thus made possible,
based on a core of commonly used surveillance related data, transferred in
the same way by the ASTERIX Presentation layer.
1.2.7 In order to achieve the intended level of interoperability the implementation of
the individual ASTERIX categories shall be performed exactly like specified in
the latest editions of the respective definitions as published on the
EUROCONTROL ASTERIX website (www.eurocontrol.int/asterix). In cases
where the exchange of specific information between two users is required,
exclusively the Special Purpose Field (see 4.2.5 below) shall be used.
1.2.8 This edition of Part 1 does not apply to Categories 001, 002 and 008. The
implementation of these categories shall follow the rules as described in the
corresponding definitions.

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2. REFERENCES
1. ISO/IEC 7498-1: 1994 [ITU-Rec.X.200 (19940]
Information Processing Systems - OSI Reference Model - The Basic
Model
2. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1207/2011 of 22/11/2011 laying down
requirements for the Performance and Interoperability of Surveillance for
the Single European Sky

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3. DEFINITIONS, ACRONYMS AND

ABBREVIATIONS

3.1 Definitions
For the purposes of this EUROCONTROL Specification, the following
definitions shall apply:

3.1.1 Catalogue of List of all the possible Data Items of each Data Category
describing the Data Items by their reference, structure, size
Data Items:
and units (where applicable).

3.1.2 Data Block: Unit of information seen by the application as a discrete

entity by its contents. A Data Block contains one or more
Record(s) containing data of the same Category.

3.1.3 Data Category: Classification of the data in order to permit inter-alia an

easy identification.

3.1.4 Data Field: Physical implementation for the purpose of communication

of a Data Item, it is associated with a unique Field
Reference Number and is the smallest unit of transmitted
information.

3.1.5 Data Item: The smallest unit of information in each Data Category.

3.1.6 Record: A collection of transmitted Data Fields of the same

Category preceded by a Field Specification field, signalling
the presence/absence of the various Data Fields

3.1.7 User The mechanism for assigning Data Items to Data Fields,
and containing all necessary information which needs to be
Application
standardised for the successful encoding and decoding of
Profile:
the messages.

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3.2 Acronyms and Abbreviations

For the purposes of this EUROCONTROL Specification the following shall
apply:
ASTERIX All Purpose STructured EUROCONTROL suRveillance
Information EXchange
ATC Air Traffic Control
CAT Data Category
CNS Communication, Navigation, Surveillance
DCE Data Circuit-Terminating Equipment
DTE Data Terminal Equipment
FRN Field Reference Number
FSPEC Field Specification
FX Field Extension Indicator
ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization
ISO International Standards Organization
LAN Local Area Network
LEN Length Indicator
LSB Least Significant Bit
OSI Open Systems Interconnection
RDE-TF Surveillance Data Exchange Task Force
RE Reserved Expansion Indicator
REP Field Repetition Indicator
RSSP Radar Systems Specialist Panel
SAC System Area Code
SIC System Identification Code
SP Special Purpose Indicator
STFRDE Surveillance Task Force on Radar Data Exchange
SURT Surveillance Team
UAP User Application Profile (see Definitions)
UTC Co-ordinated Universal Time
WAN Wide Area Network

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4. DESCRIPTION AND PRINCIPLES OF

ASTERIX

4.1 Organisation of the Data

The surveillance related data exchanged between the users shall be
organised as shown in Figure 1.

4.1.1 Data Categories

4.1.1.1 The data exchanged over the communication medium between the different
users shall be classified into Data Categories.
4.1.1.2 Those categories which define the type of data exchanged shall be
standardised and be the same for all users of ASTERIX.
4.1.1.3 The purpose of such a classification shall be to:
 allow easy identification and subsequent processing of the data;
 facilitate the dispatching of the data to the appropriate application task
in the receiving unit;
4.1.1.4 Up to 256 Data Categories can be defined and their usage shall be as follows:
 Data Categories 000 to 127 for standard civil and military applications;
 Data Categories 128 to 240 reserved for special military applications;
 Data Categories 241 to 255 used for both civil and military
non-standard applications.
NOTE - The up-to-date list of ASTERIX Data Categories (except for special
military applications) is published on the EUROCONTROL Web
Site (http://www.eurocontrol.int/asterix).
4.1.1.5 Allocation of ASTERIX Categories
 For Data Categories 000 to 127, the responsibility for the allocation of
Category numbers has been given to the STFRDE (now RDE-TF), with
endorsement by the SURT.
ANNEX B contains a list of all ASTERIX categories currently assigned by
the RDE-TF.
 For all other categories coordination of the category number with the
RDE-TF is recommended in order to ensure as far as possible a unique
identification of the categories. The detailed contents of these categories
may be defined by the requesting authority following the basic principles
laid down in this EUROCONTROL specification.
ANNEX C shows a list of categories coordinated with the RDE-TF.

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SURVEILLANCE RELATED

DATA

DATA CATEGORY (1) DATA CATEGORY (2) DATA CATEGORY (n)

CATALOGUE OF DATA CATALOGUE OF DATA CATALOGUE OF DATA

ITEMS FOR THIS CATEGORY ITEMS FOR THIS ITEMS FOR THIS
CATEGORY CATEGORY
DATA ITEM (1) DATA ITEM (1) DATA ITEM (1)
DATA ITEM (2) DATA ITEM (2) DATA ITEM (2)
. . .
. . .
DATA ITEM (p) DATA ITEM (q) DATA ITEM (r)

USER APPLICATION PROFILE

DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA DATA

FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD FIELD

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

DATA ITEM (1) x

DATA ITEM (2) x

DATA ITEM (3) x

DATA ITEM (4) x

DATA ITEM (5)

...

DATA ITEM (x) x

DATA ITEM (x + 1) x

...

DATA ITEM (q) x

Figure 1 - Organisation of the Data

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4.1.2 Data Items and Catalogue of Data Items

4.1.2.1 A Data Item is the smallest unit of information defined and standardised. For
each Data Category, a Catalogue of Data Items shall be standardised.
4.1.2.2 Applications involving the exchange of information out of a given Data
Category, shall exclusively make use of the Data Items standardised in such
Catalogue(s) of Data Items.
4.1.2.3 Each Data Item shall be given a unique reference which unambiguously
identifies this item in the relevant catalogue.
4.1.2.4 The Data Item symbolic reference shall consist of an eight-character
reference of the form Innn/AAA, where:
 I indicates that this represents a Data Item;
 nnn is a three digit decimal number which indicates the Data
Category to which this Data Item belongs (000 to 255);
 AAA is a three digit decimal number which indicates the data item.
4.1.2.5 Where applicable, the system units shall also be standardised.

4.1.3 Data Fields

4.1.3.1 For the purpose of communication, the various Data Items shall be assigned
to Data Fields, each having a length of an integral number of octets and
referenced by a Field Reference Number (FRN).
4.1.3.2 The correspondence between Data Items and Data Fields shall be
standardised for each relevant application by the User Application Profile
(UAP) concerning this application.

4.1.4 User Application Profile

4.1.4.1 The UAP is the mechanism whereby the correspondence between Data Items
and Data Fields shall be standardised for each application making use of the
ASTERIX message structure.
4.1.4.2 The UAP shall be considered as a control table attached to the message
assembly/disassembly programs resident in the relevant processing systems.
It essentially defines which of the catalogued Data Items will be used, their
length (where applicable), their assignment to the Data Fields and any specific
requirements which need to be standardised for the successful transmission
and interpretation of the messages.
NOTE - With this mechanism, it is easy to optimise the transmission
efficiency without program modification by taking into account the
frequency of occurrence of specific Data Items. Furthermore, it
enables a choice to be made between various representations of
the same logical piece of information.
4.1.4.3 Spare bits in the UAP shall be set to zero.
4.1.4.4 The UAP should be unique per Category.
Note: The UAP forms an integral part of a category and is defined within the
respective definition.

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4.2 The General Message Structure

4.2.1 General
The application data to be transmitted over the communication medium shall
consist of either one or a concatenation of consecutive Data Blocks.

4.2.2 The Data Block

4.2.2.1 A Data Block shall consist of:
 a one-octet field Data Category (CAT) indicating to which Category the
data transmitted belongs;
 a two-octet field Length Indicator (LEN) indicating the total length (in
octets) of the Data Block, including the CAT and LEN fields;
 one or more Record(s) containing data of the same Category.
NOTE - The Data Block structure is depicted in Figure 2.
4.2.2.2 Each Record is of variable length but aligned on an octet boundary. The
length of a Data Block is thus variable but shall always be a multiple of an
octet.
4.2.2.3 The maximum size of a Data Block shall be mutually agreed between data
sources and users.

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Figure 2 - Data Block Structure

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4.2.3 The Record

4.2.3.1 A Record shall contain the information of the same Data Category needed by
a given application and shall consist of:
 a Field Specification (FSPEC) field of variable length, considered as a
table of contents, in the form of a bit sequence, where every individual
bit signals the presence (bit set to one) or absence (bit set to zero) of a
well defined Data Field assigned to it;
 a variable number of Data Fields. Each Data Field is associated with
one and only one Data Item, as defined by the UAP.
4.2.3.2 Source identification shall be present in every record.
4.2.3.3 The length of a Record is implicit from its structure and shall always be a
multiple of an octet.

4.2.4 Standard Data Field Formats

The length of Standard Data Fields shall be either fixed or variable, as defined
below:
 Fixed length Data Fields, depicted in Figure 3, shall comprise a fixed
number of octets.
 Extended length Data Fields, depicted in Figure 3, being of a variable
length, shall contain a primary part of predetermined length,
immediately followed by a number of secondary parts, each of
predetermined length. The presence of the next following secondary
part shall be indicated by the setting to one of the Least Significant Bit
(LSB) of the last octet of the preceding part (either the primary part or a
secondary part). This bit which is reserved for that purpose is called the
Field Extension Indicator (FX).
 Explicit length Data Fields shall start with a one-octet length indicator
giving the total field length in octets including the length indicator itself.
 Repetitive Data Fields, depicted in Figure 3, being of a variable length,
shall comprise a one-octet Field Repetition Indicator (REP) signalling
the presence of N consecutive sub-fields each of the same pre-
determined length.
 Compound Data Fields, depicted in Figure 4, being of a variable length,
shall comprise a primary subfield, followed by data subfields. The
primary subfield determines the presence or absence of the
subsequent data subfields. It comprises a first part of one octet
extendible using the Field Extension (FX) mechanism. The definition,
structure and format of the data subfields are part of the description of
the relevant Compound Data Item. Data subfields shall be either fixed
length, extended length, explicit length or repetitive, but not compound.

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Figure 3 - Standard Data Fields Types (except compound)

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Primary Subfield

Octet No.1
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

SF1 SF2 SF3 SF4 SF5 SF6 SF7 FX

bits-8/2 (SF n) =0 Absence of Subfield n

=1 Presence of Subfield n
bit-1 (FX) =0 End of Primary Subfield
=1 Extension of Primary Subfield
into next octet

Data Subfield No 1

Octet No.1 Octet No.2

16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Item of Information 1

.
.
.
.
.

Data Subfield No 7

Octet No.1
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Item of Information 7

Figure 4 - Compound Data Field Type

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4.2.5 Non-Standard Data Fields

4.2.5.1 There is a special feature, called Special Purpose field, allowing a user
subgroup to exchange a variable length field which shall be transparent to
non-interested users. It completes the ASTERIX Record assembly mechanism
and is intended to provide an escape mechanism for the exceptional
exchange of non-standard information. When this feature is used, a Special
Purpose Indicator, (the SP-bit) shall be reserved in the FSPEC field.
4.2.5.2 The first octet shall contain the explicit length of the field expressed in octets
and including the length indicator itself. The following Data Field may contain
information such as a Data Item not defined, a text string for operator
communication, test data, etc.
4.2.5.3 The contents of such a Data Field shall be agreed between the users
concerned, while those not concerned may skip the data.

4.2.6 Reserved Expansion Data Field

4.2.6.1 The Reserved Expansion Data field is intended to provide a mechanism to
introduce intermediate changes to a given category, as explained in 7.2.3. In a
way similar to the Special Purpose mechanism, users which are not able to
decode the information contained in this data field may skip the data. This
feature shall be implemented in all categories referring to this edition of Part
1: at least one Reserved Expansion Indicator (RE-bit) shall be allocated in the
FSPEC field.
4.2.6.2 The first octet shall contain the explicit length of the field expressed in octets,
including the length indicator itself.
4.2.6.3 The contents of such a Data Field shall be agreed by the RDE-TF.
4.2.6.4 When necessary, the use of the Reserved Expansion Data field, for a given
category, will be described in a separate document from the ASTERIX
Category definition document.
This document will be available on the EUROCONTROL Web Site
(http://www.eurocontrol.int/asterix) and a reference to it will be present near
the appropriate ASTERIX Category definition document.

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4.2.7 Field Organisation

4.2.7.1 In a Record, Data Fields shall be sent in the order of increasing FRNs.
4.2.7.2 The minimum length of the FSPEC field shall be one octet, which allows the
composition of Records consisting of any combination of Data Fields with
FRNs from one up to and including seven.
4.2.7.3 When Data Fields with FRNs greater than seven have to be transmitted the
FSPEC extension mechanism shall be used. This is achieved by assigning a
special meaning to the LSB of any FSPEC octet. The LSB, when set to one,
signals the continuation of the FSPEC field with at least one further octet, until
finally an octet is encountered with the LSB set to zero. The LSB in the
FSPEC field is called the Field Extension Indicator (FX).
NOTE - For illustrative purposes two examples of Record Structures are
shown in Figure 5. The first example contains a Record with a
single-octet FSPEC, whereas the second one highlights a case
with a multi-octet FSPEC.
4.2.7.4 In order to illustrate all elements of ASTERIX Record composition an example
is depicted in Figure 6 where FSPEC bit-14 is dedicated to the SP feature.

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Page 16
STRUCTURE OF THE FIELD SPECIFICATION (FSPEC)

bit 1 bit 2 bit 3 bit 4 bit 5 bit 6 bit 7 bit 8 bit 9 bit 10 bit 11 bit 12 bit 13 bit 14 bit 15 bit 16

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 FX F8 F9 F10 F11 F12 F13 F14 FX . . . . . . . etc

F1 to F7: FIELD PRESENCE INDICATOR | = 0 Data Field not present

| = 1 Data Field present

FX : FIELD EXTENSION INDICATOR | = 0 No Field Specification extension

| = 1 Following octet contains a Field Specification extension

EXAMPLE OF ONE-OCTET FSPEC

F1 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7 FX

1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 DATA FIELD (1) DATA FIELD (4) DATA FIELD (7)

Released Issue
FSPEC
RECORD
Surveillance Information Exchange (ASTERIX)

EXAMPLE OF A MULTI-OCTET FSPEC

Figure 5 - Field Sequencing Organisation

F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 X 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 X 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 X
DATA DATA DATA DATA
10 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 FIELD (1) FIELD (5) FIELD (9) FIELD (20)
FSPEC
RECORD
EUROCONTROL Specification for Surveillance Data Exchange - Part 1 All Purpose Structured EUROCONTROL

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Figure 6 - Overall Record Structure

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5. CONVENTIONS
5.1 Bit Numbering
5.1.1 All bit positions within a one octet field shall be numbered right to left from one
to eight.
5.1.2 For an n-octet field:
 the octets shall be numbered left to right from one to n;
 the bit positions shall be numbered right to left from one to n x 8.
5.1.3 With an FSPEC field the following exceptions for bit positions shall apply:
 in a one-octet FSPEC the bits will be numbered left to right from one to
eight;
 in a p-octet FSPEC the bits will be numbered left to right from one to
px8.
5.1.4 Data shall be presented to the application at the receiving end in the same
order as generated at the transmitting end.

5.2 Binary Values

Negative values shall be represented in two's complement form.

5.3 Time Management

Time stamping shall be expressed as Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC).

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6. ASTERIX ADDRESSING SCHEME

6.1 General
In order to avoid ambiguity, every system shall have a unique identification in
an area where ASTERIX is used for the exchange of data.

6.2 Syntax
The ASTERIX System Identifier format shall be composed of two subfields as
illustrated below:

SAC SIC

Field Name Element Type Field Size

SAC System Area Code Binary One octet

SIC System Identification Code Binary One octet

6.3 Formats
6.3.1 System Area Code (SAC)
6.3.1.1 The SAC field shall consist of an eight-bit number assigned to a geographical
area or a country.
6.3.1.3 The SAC field format shall be as illustrated below:

b b b b b b b b

where b represents a binary digit.

6.3.2 System Identification Code (SIC)

6.3.2.1 The SIC shall consist of an eight-bit number assigned to every system
(surveillance station, processing system, server, etc.) located in the
geographical area or country defined by the SAC.
6.3.2.2 The SIC field format shall be as illustrated below:

b b b b b b b b

where b represents a binary digit.

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6.4 Assignment of the Systems Identifiers

6.4.1 System Area Codes
6.4.1.1 One SAC should be assigned to each country.
NOTE - When needed, more than one SAC may be assigned to a single
country, for example to differentiate between civil and military
applications.
6.4.1.3 Assignment of SACs shall be co-ordinated by the RDE-TF.
NOTE - The up-to-date list of SACs is published on the EUROCONTROL
Web Site (http://www.eurocontrol.int/asterix).

6.4.2 System Identification Codes

6.4.2.1 The individual SICs shall be assigned by the State concerned within the area
identified by the SAC applying national arrangements.
6.4.2.2 Within one geographical area or country identified by a SAC, up to 256
individual codes (SICs) can be assigned.

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7. ASTERIX MIGRATION POLICY

7.1 General
The ASTERIX migration policy allows the co-existence and support of two or
even more consecutive versions of a particular part of the EUROCONTROL
Specification for Surveillance Data Exchange. It shall be applicable to
standard categories, within the range 000-127.

7.2 Description
7.2.1 Application Domain
7.2.1.1 The ASTERIX format can be used to convey various information related to
surveillance. An application domain is a particular application of ASTERIX,
such as the transmission of mono-surveillance target reports or the
transmission of mono-surveillance service messages.
7.2.1.2 The ASTERIX migration policy allows the definition of 32 application domains
that shall be identified by an initial Category number between 0 and 31. Each
application domain shall be described in one and only one part of the
ASTERIX Specification.

7.2.2 Version Management

7.2.2.1 For a given application domain, the version of the corresponding Category
definition shall be identified by its reference number and its edition date. In
order to avoid any mis-interpretation of data, any new version of a part shall
be allocated a Category number different from the previous one, according to
the rule below:
Cat(N+1) = ( Cat(N) + 32 ) Mod 128
NOTE - This approach allows the coexistence of up to four versions of a
same part.
7.2.2.2 Recommendation In order to limit the number of simultaneous versions of
a same part, the publication of a subsequent version should not be within a
time-lapse of typically five to ten years.

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7.2.2.3 Example of Monoradar Service Messages

This application domain covers sector crossing and other messages used to
provide information on the status of a Primary, Secondary or Mode S radar
station. It is described in detail in Part 2b. The initial Category number
allocated to this application domain is 002.
The next version of this Category will be Category 034, followed by versions
066, 098 and then returning again to 002. On the basic premise that a version
is applicable for ten years, this will provide half a century for the old Category
002 to disappear before a new version with the same Category number is
created.
7.2.2.4 Exceptions
7.2.2.4.1 Categories 000 and 032
There will not be any subsequent versions of Category 000.
Therefore, Category 032 is not the next version of Category 000, but is related
to a different application domain. The next versions of Category 032 will be
064, 096 and then again 000.
7.2.2.4.2 Monoradar Target Reports: Categories 001, 016 and 048
This application domain covers the messages carrying plots and tracks issued
by Primary, Secondary and Mode S radar stations.
The initial Category number allocated to this application domain was 001. As
primary and non-Mode S secondary stations were already operational while
Mode S was still under development, it was decided to split this application
domain into two separate categories: 001 for primary and non-Mode S
secondary surveillance, and 016 for Mode S surveillance.
As Mode S is now a mature technology, the decision was taken to combine all
monoradar target reports into a single category, category 048, which is the
next version of both categories 001 and 016. The next versions of category
048 will be 080, 112, 016 and then again 048.

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7.2.3 Modifications
7.2.3.1 Modifications, which would result in non-interoperable implementations, shall
be withheld and collected during a five to ten years period for implementation
in the next version, which then re-uses the eldest Category number from the
cyclic pool.
7.2.3.2 Recommendation Minor modifications, not leading to interoperability
problems, should be implemented at intermediate points in time (in the last
version, thus not creating a new version).
NOTE - The Reserved Expansion field feature provides an escape
mechanism to introduce modifications at an early stage, before
proceeding to a new version.

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ANNEX A. Traceability between ASTERIX Specifications and Commission

Implementing Regulation (EC) No 1207/2011 of 22/11/2011

A.1 General
Commission Regulation (EC) No 1207/2011 of 22/11/2011 lays down
requirements for the performance and interoperability of surveillance for the
Single European Sky.
ASTERIX as data format for the exchange of surveillance related data is fully
consistent with the relevant requirements of the Regulation therefore it may be
used by the stakeholders in the implementation of these requirements. In
order to facilitate the implementation as well as the demonstration of
compliance, Annex A.2 provides the traceability between the relevant
regulatory requirements and content of the ASTERIX Specification.
To be considered compliant with the interoperability requirements of the
regulation the basic principles as laid down in Part 1 of ASTERIX have to be
respected and the ASTERIX categories have to be implemented as described
in the respective definitions.
To be compliant with the interoperability requirements of the regulation it is
assumed that the appropriate surveillance infrastructure has been
implemented.

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A. 2 Compliance Matrix
Commission Regulation
ASTERIX Requirements
No 1207/2011
Regulatory Requirements

Generic interoperability requirements As attachments to this

EUROCONTROL specification, the
ASTERIX category definitions
(containing the detailed format
descriptions of the various ASTERIX
categories) are considered as Means
of Compliance to Commission
Regulation No 1207/2011 only as long
as they are implemented following the
version as published on the ASTERIX
website.
(www.eurocontrol.int/asterix).

Annex III: Surveillance data exchange Data source identifier (SAC/SIC)

requirements referred to in Article present in all ASTERIX categories.
5(1): Identification of data source

Annex III: Surveillance data exchange Category indication present in all

requirements referred to in Article ASTERIX blocks.
5(1): Identification of the type of data

Annex III: Surveillance data exchange Time of Day (expressed in UTC)

requirements referred to in Article present in all ASTERIX categories.
5(1): Time stamping requirements

Table 1 - Compliance matrix

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ANNEX B. ASTERIX Categories managed by RDE-TF

The following table contains a list of ASTERIX categories in the standard range
(0 … 127) and the purpose for which they are assigned. For the latest available
information please refer to EUROCONTROL’s ASTERIX website at
www.eurocontrol.int/asterix.

Category Application

000 Time Synchronisation Messages

001 Monoradar Target Reports

002 Monoradar Service Messages

003 Air Traffic Situation Picture

004 Safety Net Messages

007 Directed Interrogation Messages

008 Monoradar Weather Information

009 Multisensor Weather Information

010 Monosensor Surface Movement Data

011 Advanced SMGCS Data

017 Mode S Surveillance Coordination Function Messages

018 Mode S Data Link Function Messages

019 Multilateration System Status Messages

020 Multilateration Target Reports

021 ADS-B Target Reports

022 TIS-B Management Messages

023 CNS/ATM Ground Station Service Messages

024 ADS-C Messages

034 Monoradar Station Messages (Successor of category 002)

048 Monoradar Target Reports (Successor of category 001)

061 SDPS Session and Service Control Messages

062 System Track Data

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063 Sensor Status Messages

065 SDPS Service Status Messages

Table 2 - ASTERIX Categories managed by RDE-TF

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ANNEX C. ASTERIX Categories coordinated with RDE-TF

The following ASTERIX categories, outside the standard range of categories,

have been coordinated with the RDE-TF and their evolution will be agreed with
the RDE-TF.

Category Application
3
128 C I Messages
150 Flight Data Messages
151 Association Messages
152 Time Stamp Messages
240 Radar Video Transmission
247 Version Number Exchange
251 Supplemental Data (Birdtam)
252 Session and Service Control Messages
253 Remote Station Monitoring and Control Information

Table 3 - ASTERIX Categories coordinated with RDE-TF

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