Stage: Final Publications

Regulatory Agency Final Publications

FAA Notice N8900_636 Revised FAA-Approved Deicing Program Updates, Winter 2022–2023

This notice provides inspectors with information on holdover times (HOT) and recommendations on various other ground deicing/anti-icing issues. This notice clarifies guidance regarding reported Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) obscurations to remove potential misinterpretations.
Note: This notice is designed to be used in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Holdover Time Guidelines for Winter 2022–2023. The two documents complement each other and should be used together for a thorough understanding of the subject matter.

FAA AC_120-110A Aircraft Secondary Barriers and Alternate Flightdeck Security Procedures

This AC provides an acceptable means, but not the only means, to achieve effective protection of the flightdeck as required by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121, § 121.584 by implementing a secondary barrier. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

EASA NPA 2022-104 Postponement of the Requirement for Locating an Aircraft in Distress

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2018/1139 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2018 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Union Aviation Safety Agency, and amending Regulations (EC) No 2111/2005, (EC) No 1008/2008, (EU) No 996/2010, (EU) No 376/2014 and Directives 2014/30/EU and
2014/53/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and repealing Regulations (EC) No 552/2004 and (EC) No 216/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EEC) No 3922/911 , and in particular Article 31 thereof,

Whereas:
(1) ICAO Standard 6.18.1 was incorporated into point CAT.GEN.MPA.210 of Annex IV (Part-CAT) to Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/20122 , which requires certain
aeroplanes to be equipped with robust and automatic means to accurately determine, following an accident during which the aeroplane is severely damaged, the location of the point of end of flight.

(2) The ICAO Council adopted Amendment 48 to ICAO Annex 6, Part I at the 16th Meeting of their 226th Session on 18 July 2022. That amendment postpones the applicability date of ICAO Standard 6.18.1 to 1 January 2025 and restricts its applicability to aeroplanes first issued with an individual Certificate of  airworthiness (CofA) on or after 1 January 2024.

(3) That amendment intends (i) to address the significant delays, faced by all aircraft manufacturers concerned worldwide, in fitting aeroplanes with the required equipment, and setting up the necessary communication infrastructure between all relevant stakeholders (including air traffic service (ATS) providers and rescue coordination centres (RCCs)), and (ii) to provide more time for RCCs and ATS units to prepare and adapt their procedures.

(4) Commission Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 should, therefore, be amended accordingly.

(5) The European Union Aviation Safety Agency prepared draft implementing rules and submitted them to the European Commission with Opinion No 5/2022 in accordance with Article 76(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/1139.

Mandate for ADS-B in Class A and B Airspace to Support Space-Based Receivers

NAV CANADA today confirmed that due to supply chain impacts related to the COVID pandemic, the previously announced implementation dates for the Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out Performance Mandate have been adjusted for Class A and B airspace.

In coordination with Transport Canada, the state regulator, new dates have been developed in a manner reflective of customer feedback regarding supply chain limitations and backlogs to acquire and install the appropriate transponder, as well as current equipage levels in each class of airspace.

As a result, the mandate will come into effect as follows:

  • Class A Canadian airspace on August 10, 2023
  • Class B Canadian airspace on May 16, 2024
  • Class C, D and E to occur no sooner than 2026 and will be determined pending further assessment.

In February 2022, NAV CANADA announced Canada’s plan to implement ADS-B Out mandate to enhance aircraft operations in domestic airspace – requiring aircraft operators flying in certain domestic airspace to meet ADS-B Out Performance Requirements.

Following the announcement and after considerable industry engagement with Transport Canada and industry stakeholders, NAV CANADA is confirming new official start dates to allow customers adequate time to equip.

“The valuable input we have received from our stakeholders and partners on the Canadian ADS-B mandate indicates that later dates for the mandate requirement are warranted as the industry continues to navigate the ongoing impacts to supply chains due to the pandemic,” said Jeff Dawson, Assistant Vice President, Operational Support. “We are taking these steps to ensure customers have adequate time to comply with mandate equipage requirements.”

“What we are seeing in terms of equipage is very encouraging – rates in Class A airspace are at 95 per cent, while those in Class B airspace are above the 88 per cent mark and growing steadily.”

The equipage requirements of Canada’s approach to the implementation of the ADS-B are in line with a growing number of other countries in the world, and the adoption of satellite-based surveillance technology ensures long-term alignment with the global aviation system.

About the ADS-B Out Performance Requirements Mandate

To meet the ADS-B Out Performance Mandate, aircraft will be required to:

  • Be equipped with an appropriate transponder with ADS-B out capabilities and performance with the applicable standard of Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics (RTCA) DO-260B, “Minimum Operational Performance Standards”, or newer.
  • Have antenna capability for broadcast toward space-based ADS-B receivers emitting 1090 MHz extended squitter. This requirement can be met either through antenna diversity (the use of a top and bottom antenna) or with a single antenna that is capable of transmitting both towards the ground and up towards satellites.

Associated Links

To learn more about the safety and efficiency benefits being realized through the use of space-based ADS-B and the requirements for equipage please visit our website.

About NAV CANADA

NAV CANADA is a private, not-for-profit company, established in 1996, providing air traffic control, airport advisory services, weather briefings and aeronautical information services for more than 18 million square kilometres of Canadian domestic and international airspace. The Company is internationally recognized for its safety record, and technology innovation. Air traffic management systems developed by NAV CANADA are used by air navigation service providers in countries worldwide.

FAA AIR-600-22-600-PM03 Clarification on FAA Approval of Repair Specifications

This memorandum clarifies policy for ACO Branch engineering personnel, as well as DesignatedEngineering Representatives (DER) and Organization Designation Authorization (ODA) holders authorized to approve engineering and technical data that support multiple-use major repairs inthe form of a repair specification (RS). This memo is not intended to affect any previously-approved RS.