§  87.189   Requirements for public correspondence equipment and operations.

   (a) Transmitters used for public correspondence by aircraft stations in
   the maritime mobile frequency bands must be authorized by the
   Commission in conformity with part 80 of this chapter.

   (b) Transmitters used for public correspondence by aircraft stations in
   the Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite (R) or Maritime Mobile-Satellite
   frequencies must be certificated by the Commission in conformity with
   part 87. Aircraft earth stations that are required to be commissioned
   to use a privately owned satellite system also must meet the provisions
   of § 87.51.

   (c) A continuous watch must be maintained on the frequencies used for
   safety and regularity of flight while public correspondence
   communications are being handled. For aircraft earth stations, this
   requirement is satisfied by compliance with the priority and preemptive
   access requirements of § 87.187(q).

   (d) All communications in the Aeronautical Mobile Service and the
   Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite (R) Service have priority over public
   correspondence.

   (e) Transmission of public correspondence must be suspended when such
   operation will delay or interfere with message pertaining to safety of
   life and property or regularity of flight, or when ordered by the
   captain of the aircraft.

   [ 53 FR 28940 , Aug. 1, 1988, as amended at  57 FR 45750 , Oct. 5, 1992;  63 FR 36608 , July 7, 1998;  69 FR 32884 , June 14, 2004]