AD/RAD/60 Amdt 1 - GNS-XLS/GNS-XL Warning Placard

Overview

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, under the authority of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, was enacted to regulate and ensure the safety of civil aviation within Australia. One specific legislative instrument within this framework is the AD/RAD/60 Amendment 1 concerning the GNS-XLS/GNS-XL Warning Placard, which was introduced to address the safety issue associated with misleading information generated by the GNS-XLS or GNS-XL global positioning systems during non-precision GPS approaches or Overlay approaches. This legislative instrument was designed to ensure that all affected aircraft meet specific safety standards, thereby mitigating potential risks to flight operations. The policy objective of this amendment is to mandate compliance with the installation of software modifications or warning placards to ensure the accuracy and reliability of navigation information provided to pilots.

Scope and Application

The Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, specifically Part 39 - 107, applies to all aircraft fitted with specific Allied Signal Avionics Inc (Global Wulfberg) global positioning systems (GPS) Flight Management Systems, namely the GNS-XLS and GNS-XL with the identified part numbers. These aircraft include, but are not limited to, models such as the British Aerospace 146-100A and 146-200A, Cessna 525, 550 and 560D, Dassault Mystere-Falcon 20 and 50, Gulfstream Aerospace G-1159 (GII) and G-1159A (GIII), Raytheon Hawker 800, Israel Aircraft Industries 1124 and 1125, Sabreliner NA-65, Learjet 35, and Jetstream 4101. The regulation requires compliance prior to 27 February 1998, with the amendment becoming effective on 1 January 1998. The directive mandates either the installation of a warning placard or the application of a specific software modification to ensure the systems do not provide misleading information during non-precision GPS approaches or overlay approaches. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) AD 97-05-03 Amdt 39-9947 is referenced for further guidance. The installation of the specified software modification terminates the need for the placard, which can then be removed.

Key Provisions

The key sections of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, Part 39 - 107, concerning the Airworthiness Directive (AD) for radio communication and navigation equipment, specifically the GNS-XLS/GNS-XL warning placard, require that certain aircraft fitted with specified GPS systems comply with the directive. Section 1/98 mandates that all aircraft equipped with Allied Signal Avionics Inc. (Global Wulfberg) GPS Flight Management Systems Models GNS-XLS and GNS-XL with specific part numbers must either install a warning placard or a software modification to ensure safe operation. If the required software modification 2 is already installed, as outlined in Allied Signal Software Bulletin SWB GNS-XL-SW1 or SWB GNS-XLS-SW1, no further action is required. Otherwise, the directive requires the installation of a warning placard with specific wording in clear view of the pilot or the installation of software modification 2. The obligations imposed by this legislation include ensuring that the aircraft's GPS systems are either modified to the specified software update or equipped with the mandated placard. Aircraft owners and operators must determine the modification status of their installed software and take appropriate action if necessary. The warning placard must be clearly visible to the pilot and contain the specified wording: "GPS NPA LIMITED TO TRAINING IN DAY VMC ONLY." This requirement ensures that pilots are aware of the limitations of the GPS systems during certain flight conditions. Failure to comply with the AD may result in serious safety issues, potentially leading to misleading navigation information during non-precision GPS approaches or Overlay approaches. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) enforces this directive strictly to maintain air safety standards. The consequences of non-compliance could include potential grounding of the aircraft until the required modifications or placards are installed, and there may be penalties or legal actions taken against the aircraft operators for failing to adhere to the safety directives. The specific penalties and enforcement actions are governed by broader aviation safety laws and regulations, which may include fines or other legal repercussions.