Effectiveness:

ELEMENTARY SURVEILLANCE: As of March 2003 it is MANDATORY to have Mode S onboard equipments, in accordance with the AICs legislation. Nevertheless, to give the operators enough time to adapt to the requirements, a transition period has been established:

New production aircraft to be compliant by March 31st 2004.

For aircraft flying IFR/ GAT; must be compliant by March 31st 2005.

For aircraft flying VFR; must be compliant by March 31st 2008 .

ENHANCED SURVEILLANCE: As of March, 2005 it is MANDATORY to have Mode S onboard equipments capable of including further aircraft parameters known as Downlink Airborne Parameters (DAPs). France, Germany and the United Kingdom announced their common decision to implement Mode S Enhanced Surveillance as MANDATORY in their respective airspace as of March 2005, allowing a transition period until March 2007.

Documentation: