[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 11759-11761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5728]



[[Page 11759]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97-CE-07-AD; Amendment 39-11064; AD 97-05-03 R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; AlliedSignal Avionics, Inc. Models GNS-
Xls and GNS-Xl Flight Management Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment revises Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-05-03, 
which currently requires inserting a limitation into the Operations 
Limitation Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) or Flight Manual 
Supplement for all owners/operators of aircraft equipped with an 
AlliedSignal Avionics, Inc. (AlliedSignal) Models GNS-Xls or GNS-Xl 
global positioning systems (GPS) flight management system. The 
limitation specifies prohibiting the use of these AlliedSignal GPS 
units on previously published non-precision approaches. This AD is the 
result of AlliedSignal issuing service information that specifies 
procedures for accomplishing hardware and software modifications to the 
affected flight management systems. The Federal Aviation Administration 
(FAA) determined that accomplishment of the actions of the service 
bulletins should be considered as an alternative method of compliance 
to the actions of AD 97-05-03. This AD retains the actions of AD 97-05-
03, and incorporates the service bulletins into the AD, as an 
alternative method of compliance to the existing AD. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to continue to prevent deviation from 
an intended flight path during a non-precision approach to an airport 
caused by inaccurate information from the GPS flight management system.

DATES: Effective April 20, 1999.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of April 20, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Service information that applies to this AD may be obtained 
from Alliedsignal Aerospace, Commercial Avionics Systems, 400 N. Rogers 
Road, Olathe, Kansas 66062. This information may also be examined at 
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Central Region, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No. 97-CE-07-AD, Room 
1558, 601 E. 12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; or at the Office 
of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, 
Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jose Flores, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 
100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 
946-4133; facsimile: (316) 946-4407.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Events Leading to the Issuance of This AD

    A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR part 39) to include an AD that would apply to aircraft equipped 
with an Alliedsignal Models GNS-Xls or GNS-Xl global positioning 
systems (GPS) flight management system was published in the Federal 
Register as a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on October 29, 1998 
(63 FR 57955). The NPRM proposed to revise AD 97-05-03, Amendment 39-
9947 (62 FR 8617, February 26, 1997), which currently requires 
inserting the following limitation into the Operations Limitations 
Section of the AFM or Flight Manual Supplement for all owners/operators 
of aircraft equipped with an AlliedSignal Models GNS-Xls or GNS-Xl GPS 
flight management system:

Operating Limitations

    The GNS-Xl (or GNS-Xls) is not approved for non-precision 
approaches.
NOTE
    The GNS-Xl (or GNS-Xls) may generate misleading information during 
non-precision GPS or Overlay approaches due to software limitations.

    The NPRM proposed to retain the AFM requirements of AD 97-05-03, 
and would incorporate the hardware and software modifications specified 
in GlobalWulfsberg Software Bulletin No: GNS-Xl-SW1, dated February 
1997, and BENDIX/KING Software Bulletin No: GNS-Xls-SW2, dated February 
1997, into the AD, as an alternative method of compliance to the AFM 
requirements.
    The NPRM was the result of AlliedSignal issuing service information 
that specifies procedures for accomplishing hardware and software 
modifications to the affected flight management systems. The Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) determined that accomplishment of the 
actions of the service bulletins should be considered as an alternative 
method of compliance to the actions of AD 97-05-03.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposed rule or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public.

The FAA's Determination

    After careful review of all available information related to the 
subject presented above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the 
public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed except for 
minor editorial corrections. The FAA has determined that these minor 
corrections will not change the meaning of the AD and will not add any 
additional burden upon the public than was already proposed.

Compliance Time of This AD

    The condition specified by this AD is not caused by actual hours 
time-in-service (TIS) of the aircraft where the affected flight 
management systems are installed. The need for the AFM requirement or 
hardware and software modifications has no correlation to the number of 
times the equipment is utilized or the age of the equipment. For this 
reason, the compliance time of this AD (as was AD 97-05-03) is 
presented in calendar time instead of hours TIS.

Cost Impact

    The FAA estimates that 110 of the affected flight management 
systems are installed on aircraft of U.S. registry. This AD will 
require the same actions as AD 97-05-03, except it allows for 
accomplishing hardware and software modifications to the affected 
flight management systems, as an alternative method of compliance.
    It will take approximately 1 workhour per aircraft with the 
affected flight management system installed to accomplish the hardware 
and software modifications. No parts are required to incorporate the 
modifications. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD 
on the U.S. operators of the affected aircraft who choose to 
incorporate the software and hardware modifications (instead of the AFM 
limitation) is estimated to be $6,600, or $60 per airplane.
    For U.S. operators who choose to incorporate the AFM limitations, 
an owner/operator of the affected airplanes holding at least a private 
pilot certificate as authorized by section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.7) can accomplish this action provided an entry 
is made in the aircraft records showing compliance with this

[[Page 11760]]

AD in accordance with section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 
(14 CFR 43.9). Therefore, the only cost impact of incorporating the AFM 
limitation is the time it will take each owner/operator of the affected 
aircraft to accomplish the action.

Regulatory Impact

    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) will not have a 
significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial 
number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory 
Flexibility Act. A copy of the final evaluation prepared for this 
action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the 
caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13, is amended by removing Airworthiness Directive 
(AD) 97-05-03, Amendment 39-9947 (62 FR 8617, February 26, 1997), and 
adding a new AD to read as follows:

97-05-03 R1  AlliedSignal Avionics Inc.: Amendment 39-11064; Docket 
No. 97-CE-07-AD; Revises AD 97-05-03, Amendment 39-9947.

    Applicability: Models GNS-Xls and GNS-Xl global positioning 
systems (GPS), part numbers (P/N) 17960-0102-XXXX and P/N 18355-
0101-XXXX, respectively, installed on, but not limited to the 
following aircraft, certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Manufacturer                            Models
------------------------------------------------------------------------
British Aerospace, Ltd. (BAe)..........  146-100A and 146-200A
Cessna Aircraft Corporation............  525, 550, and 560
Dausault Aviation......................  Mystere-Falcon 20 and 50
Avions Marcel Dassault.................  Falcon 10
Gulfstream Aerospace...................  G-1159 (G-II) and G-1159A (G-
                                          III)
Raytheon Corporate Jets................  Hawker 800
Israel Aircraft Industries, Ltd........  1124
Sabreliner Corporation.................  NA-65
Learjet Inc............................  35
Jetstream Aircraft Ltd.................  4101
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1: This AD applies to each aircraft that has one of the GPS 
flight management systems installed that is identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether the 
aircraft has been modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject 
to the requirements of this AD. For aircraft that have been 
modified, altered, or repaired so that the performance of the 
requirements of this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request 
approval for an alternative method of compliance in accordance with 
paragraph (e) of this AD. The request should include an assessment 
of the effect of the modification, alteration, or repair on the 
unsafe condition addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition 
has not been eliminated, the request should include specific 
proposed actions to address it.

    Compliance: Required within 5 days after March 18, 1997 (the 
effective date of AD 97-05-03), unless already accomplished 
(compliance with AD 97-05-03).
    To prevent deviation from an intended flight path during a non-
precision approach to an airport caused by inaccurate information 
from the GPS flight management system, accomplish the following:
    (a) Insert the following limitation into the Operations 
Limitations Section of the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) or Flight 
Manual Supplement:

``Operating Limitations

    The GNS-Xl (or GNS-Xls) is not approved for non-precision 
approaches.

NOTE

    The GNS-Xl (or GNS-Xls) may generate misleading information 
during non-precision GPS or Overlay approaches due to software 
limitations.''
    (b) Inserting a copy of this AD into the Limitations section as 
described in paragraph (a) of this AD is considered compliance with 
the requirements of paragraph (a) of this AD.
    (c) Incorporating the AFM revisions, as required by paragraph 
(a) or (b) of this AD, may be performed by the owner/operator 
holding at least a private pilot certificate as authorized by 
section 43.7 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 43.7), and 
must be entered into the aircraft records showing compliance with 
this AD in accordance with section 43.9 of the Federal Aviation 
Regulations (14 CFR 43.9).
    (d) As an alternative method of compliance to the actions 
required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this AD, accomplish hardware and 
software modifications in accordance with both GlobalWulfsberg 
Software Bulletin No: GNS-Xl-SW1, dated February 1997, and BENDIX/
KING Software Bulletin No: GNS-Xls-SW2, dated February 1997, as 
applicable.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an equivalent level of safety may be 
approved by the Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, 1801 
Airport Road, Room 100, Mid-Continent Airport, Wichita, Kansas 
67209. The request shall be forwarded through an appropriate FAA 
Maintenance Inspector, who may add comments and then send it to the 
Manager, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from Wichita Aircraft Certification Office.

    (f) The hardware and software modifications required by this AD 
(as an alternative method of compliance) shall be done in accordance 
with GlobalWulfsberg Software Bulletin No: GNS-Xl-SW1, dated 
February 1997, and BENDIX/KING Software Bulletin No: GNS-Xls-SW2, 
dated February 1997. This incorporation by reference was approved by 
the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from AlliedSignal 
Aerospace, Commercial Avionics Systems, 400 N. Rogers Road, Olathe, 
Kansas 66062. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Central Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, Room 1558, 601 E.

[[Page 11761]]

12th Street, Kansas City, Missouri, or at the Office of the Federal 
Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW, suite 700, Washington, DC.
    (g) This amendment revises AD 97-05-03, Amendment 39-9947.
    (h) This amendment becomes effective on April 20, 1999.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 26, 1999.
Michael Gallagher,
Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-5728 Filed 3-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U