[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 248 (Wednesday, December 28, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76907-76908]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24502]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C166a, Extended Squitter 
Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast (ADS-B) and Traffic 
Information Service--Broadcast (TIS-B) 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 the proposed revision to technical standard order (TSO)-
C166, Extended Squitter Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast 
(ADS-B) and Traffic Information Service--Broadcast (TIS-B) Equipment 
Operating on the Radio Frequency of 1090 Megahertz (MHz), issued 
September 20, 2004. The resulting changes to this proposed revised TSO 
tells persons seeking a TSO authorization or letter of design approval 
(LODA) what minimum performance standards (MPS) their extended squitter 
ADS-B and TIS-B equipment must meet to be identified with the 
applicable TSO marking.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 27, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed technical standard order 
to:

[[Page 76908]]

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Aircraft Certification Service, 
Aircraft Engineering Division, Avionic Systems Branch (AIR-130), 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. ATTN: Mr. Robert H. 
Duffer. Or you may deliver comments to: Federal Aviation 
Administration, Room 815, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Robert H. Duffer, AIR-130, Federal 
Aviation Administration, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 
20591, Telephone (425) 227-2722, Fax (425) 227-1181.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    You are invited to comment on the proposed revised TSO by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments to the above address. 
Comments received may be examined, both before and after the closing 
date, in Room 815, at the above address, weekdays except Federal 
holidays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Director, Aircraft 
Certification Service, will consider all comments received or or before 
the closing date before issuing the final TSO.

Background

    The proposed revised TSO removes all references to RTCA document 
RTCA/DO-260, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for 1090 MHz 
Extended Squitter Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast (ADS-B), 
dated September 13, 2000, to include applicable changes listed in 
Appendix 1, Section 1 of TSO-C166. This change is being implemented to 
keep pace with plans to use ADS-B for air traffic control (ATC) 
services in the National Airspace System (NAS) that will require 
advanced position integrity parameters (i.e., NIC, NAC and SIL) not 
addressed in RTCA/DO-260. The proposed revised TSO now refers only to 
RTCA/DO-260A, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for 1090 MHz 
Extended Squitter Automatic Dependent Surveillance--Broadcast (ADS-B), 
dated April 10, 2003, as modified by Appendix 1 (previously Appendix 1, 
Section 2 of TSO-C166). In addition, Appendix 1 of the proposed revised 
TSO includes test procedures and provisions necessary for 1090 MHz 
extended squitter receivers to correctly handle ADS-B rebroadcast 
provided by ground stations.

How To Obtain Copies

    A copy of the proposed revised TSO-C166 may be obtained via the 
information contained in section title FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, 
or from the FAA Internet Web site at http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/. Copies of all RTCA documents may be purchased from RTCA, 
Inc., 1828 L Street, NW., Suite 815, Washington, DC 20036. Copies may 
also be obtained through the RTCA Internet Web site at http://www.rtca.org/.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 20, 2005.
Susan J.M. Cabler,
Assistant Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-24502 Filed 12-27-05; 8:45 am]
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