[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 240 (Monday, December 14, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 80696-80698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27324]



[[Page 80696]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; Project Identifier AD-2020-00478-Q]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Garmin International GMN-00962 GTS 
Processor Units (GTS 825, GTS 855, GTS 8000)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Garmin International (Garmin) GMN-00962 GTS processor units 
(GTS 825, GTS 855, GTS 8000). This proposed AD was prompted by reports 
of GTS processor units issuing resolution advisories (RAs) when no risk 
of collision or loss of separation exists between the airplanes 
involved. This proposed AD would require updating the software version 
of the affected GTS Processor units. The FAA is proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 28, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Garmin 
International, Garmin Aviation Support, 1200 E 151st Street, Olathe, KS 
66062; phone: (866) 739-5687; website: https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/. You may view this service information at the FAA, 
Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 901 Locust 
St., Kansas City, MO 64106. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Rau, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: 
(316) 946-4149; fax: (316) 946-4107; email: [email protected] or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; 
Project Identifier AD-2020-00478-Q'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Paul 
Rau, Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Wichita, KS 67209. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

Background

    In 2017, the FAA received seven reports of false RAs involving 
aircraft equipped with Garmin GMN-00962 GTS processor configured for 
traffic collision avoidance system II (TCAS II) (configuration marketed 
as GTS-8000 units). The Garmin GMN-00962 GTS processor units are 
marketed by Garmin as the GTS 825, GTS 855 or GTS 8000, with the 
marketing name representing the traffic system configuration.
    A false RA occurs when there is no risk of collision or loss of 
separation of the airplanes. The FAA review of available air traffic 
data identified additional false RA incidents occurring at rates as 
frequent as once every 420 flight hours in congested airspace. These 
false RAs result from the GTS Processor software potentially 
calculating incorrect range rates. This results in traffic advisories 
or RAs being generated when targets are greater than 10 nautical miles 
(NM) away. A TCAS event involving three or more airplanes can result in 
mid-air collision by increasing the risk that the TCAS, in resolving 
the false RA with the initial airplane, will create an actual loss of 
separation with a third airplane.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in an RA being 
generated when no risk of loss of separation or risk of collision 
exists between the airplanes involved, which can lead to a mid-air 
collision with a third airplane.
    The affected GTS processor units were installed on the airplanes 
listed below during production; however, the affected units may have 
been installed on other airplane models as a supplemental type 
certificate. Although the names found in parenthesis may not be listed 
on the type certificate, the manufacturer may use those names as 
marketing names for the airplanes.
     Textron Aviation Inc. (type certificate previously held by 
Cessna Aircraft Company) Model 525 (Cessna Citation M2), Model 525B 
(Cessna Citation CJ3+), Model Model 680 Sovereign, Model 680A Latitude, 
and Model 700 (Cessna Citation Longitude);
     Embraer S.A. Model EMB-500 (Phenom 100) and Model EMB-505 
(Phenom 300); and
     Learjet Inc. Model 45 (Learjet 70) and Model 45 (Learjet 
75).

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FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of 
these same type design.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Garmin Service Bulletin No. 2065, Revision A, 
dated May 7, 2020; and Garmin Service Bulletin No. 1948, Revision B, 
dated March 26, 2020. These service bulletins contain procedures for 
uploading the software update to the GMN-00962 GTS Processor units (GTS 
825, GTS 855, GTS 8000).

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require updating the GTS processor unit 
software within 12 months.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 700 appliances installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
              Action                        Labor cost            Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update GTS processor software.....  4 work-hours x $85 per                 $0             $340         $238,000
                                     hour = $340.
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Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General requirements. 
Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with promoting safe flight 
of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing regulations for 
practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator finds necessary 
for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within the scope of that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA has determined that this proposed AD would not have 
federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD 
would not have a substantial direct effect 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

Garmin International: Docket No. FAA-2020-0991; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-00478-Q.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by January 28, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Garmin International GMN-00962 GTS processor 
units, part number 011-02571-0( ), with software version 3.13 or 
earlier, except software version 3.12.1. These units are marketed as 
the GTS 825, GTS 855, or GTS 8000.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 3445, AIR COLLISION 
AVOIDANCE SYSTEM (TCAS).

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the GTS processor unit issuing false 
resolution advisories (RAs) when no risk of collision or loss of 
separation exists between the airplanes involved. A traffic 
collision avoidance system (TCAS) event involving three or more 
airplanes can result in mid-air collision by increasing the risk 
that the TCAS, in resolving the false RA between the initial 
airplane, will create an actual loss of separation with a third 
airplane. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent these false RAs, 
which can lead to a mid-air collision with a third airplane.

(f) Required Action and Compliance

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD, update the 
GTS processor software to a version that is not 3.13 or earlier.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in Related Information.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(h) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Paul Rau, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801 Airport 
Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4149; fax: 316-946-4107; 
email: [email protected] or [email protected].
    (2) For service information that is relevant to this AD, contact 
Garmin International, Garmin Aviation Support, 1200 E 151st Street, 
Olathe, KS 66062; phone: (866) 739-5687; website: https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/.


[[Page 80698]]


    Issued on December 7, 2020.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-27324 Filed 12-11-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P