RES426 – 324 – ADD RESOLUTION 426 (WRC-15) Studies on spectrum needs and regulatory provisions for the introduction and use of the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System The World Radiocommunication Conference (Geneva, 2015), considering a) that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has developed the initial version of the concept of operations for the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS); b) that GADSS is intended to address the timely identification and location of an aircraft during all phases of flight as well as distress and emergency situations; c) that GADSS is intended to use existing and new applications to support search and rescue (SAR) and flight data retrieval; d) that GADSS is intended to include terrestrial and satellite components supporting different terrestrial and space applications; e) that not all requirements in the concept of operation for GADSS are currently fulfilled by existing technologies; f) that future systems based on new technologies are being developed to contribute to fully meeting the GADSS requirements; g) that, as stated by ICAO, “the full GADSS concept can be realized in an evolutional manner”, and some applications may be developed after 2019; h) that the performance-based elements of the GADSS are still being defined by ICAO, and should be provided by ICAO in time to use them in ITU Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) studies; i) that the introduction of the GADSS needs to ensure the protection of, and impose no additional constraints on, all existing services, recognizing a) that there are provisions in the Radio Regulations, including frequency band allocations, related to aeronautical services that support distress and safety systems; b) that Annex 10 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation is a part of International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) for aeronautical telecommunication systems used by international civil aviation,