[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 2, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 61950]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-25052]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-154, Universal Access 
Transceiver Equipment

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (DOT)

ACTION: Notice of availability and requests for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of and requests 
comments on a proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO) C-154, Universal 
Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast 
(ADS-B) Equipment Operating on the Frequency of 978 MHz. This draft TSO 
tells persons seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval 
what minimum performance standards (MPS) their UAT equipment must meet 
to be identified with the applicable TSO marking.

DATES: Comments must identify the TSO file number and be received on or 
before October 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed technical standard order 
to: Technical Programs and Continued Airworthiness Branch, AIR-120, 
Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification Service--File No. 
TSO-C154, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, 
SW., Washington, DC 20591. Or deliver comments to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Bobbie J. Smith, Technical 
Programs and Continued Airworthiness Branch, AIR-120, Aircraft 
Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification Service, Federal Aviation 
Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591, 
Telephone (202) 267-9546.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to comment on the proposed TSO 
listed in this notice by submitting such written data, views, or 
arguments as they desire to the above specified address. Comments 
received on the proposed technical standard order may be examined, 
before and after the comment closing date, in Room 815, FAA 
Headquarters Building (FOB-10A), 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, weekdays except Federal holidays, between 8:30 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. All communications received on or before the closing 
date for comments specified above will be considered by the Director of 
the Aircraft Certification Service before issuing the final TSO.

Background

    This proposed TSO prescribes the minimum standards for airborne 
equipment to support Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast (ADS-
B) using Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) equipment operating on the 
frequency of 978 MHz. ADS-B is a system by which aircraft and certain 
equipped surface vehicles can share position, velocity, and other 
information with one another (and also with ground-based facilities 
such as air traffic services) via radio broadcast techniques. UTA is a 
multi-purpose aeronautical datalink system intended to support not only 
ADS-B, but also Flight Information Service--Broadcast (FIS-B), Traffic 
Information Service--Broadcast (TIS-B), and supplementary ranging and 
positioning capabilities. Two major classes of UAT equipment are 
supported by this TSO; Class A( ) equipment which incorporates both a 
broadcast and receive subsystem, and Class B( ) equipment which 
supports broadcast only.

How To Obtain Copies

    A copy of the proposed TSO-C154 may be obtained via the information 
contained in section titled ``For Further Information Contact'', or 
from the FAA Internet web site at http://www.faa.govcertification/aircraft/tsoa.htm. Copies of RTCA Document No's. RTCA/DO-160D, 
``Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne 
Equipment,'' dated July 29, 1997; RTCA/DO-178B, ``Software 
Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification,'' dated 
December 1, 1992; RTCA Document No. DO-242A, ``Minimum Aviation System 
Performance Standards for Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast 
(ADS-B)'' dated June 25, 2002; and RTCA/DO-282, ``Minimum Operational 
Performance Standards for Universal Access Trnasceiver (UAT) Automatic 
Dependant Surveillance--Broadcast (ADS-B)'' dated August 27, 2002, may 
be purchased from RTCA, Inc., 1828 L Street, NW., Suite 815, 
Washington, DC 20036. Copies can also be obtained through the RTCA 
Internet web site at http://www.rtca.org/

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 19, 2002.
Stephen P. Van Trees,
Acting Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 02-25052 Filed 10-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M