This AC provides the primary certification guidance on how to meet the airworthiness requirements for installation of non-essential, non-required aircraft cabin systems & equipment (CS&E). We incorporate in this AC the guidance in RTCA, Inc. document RTCA/DO-313, Certification Guidance for Installation of Non-Essential, Non-Required Aircraft Cabin Systems & Equipment, dated October 2, 2008. We also clarify certain guidance in RTCA/DO-313. (See paragraph 6.)  

This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. In it we describe a means, though it is not the only means, for manufacturers and installers to show their equipment design and installation performs its intended function. If you use the means described in this AC, however, you should follow it in all respects.

This advisory circular (AC) shows you how to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness approval for the development, verification, and integration of an integrated modular avionics (IMA) system for installation into an aircraft or engine.  We cite RTCA, Inc. document RTCA/DO-297, Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) Development Guidance and Certification Considerations, dated November 8, 2005 and supplement it with this text.  This AC also provides guidance on how to show compliance with Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C153, Integrated Modular Avionics Hardware Elements.

This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation.  In it, we describe an acceptable means, though it is not the only means, to obtain FAA approval of IMA systems.    

This AC uses the terminology “should” when discussing compliance to the AC itself, as the AC represents one, but not the only, method of complying with the regulations.   This AC uses the term “must” when discussing compliance to the regulations, as compliance to a regulation is not optional.  In these cases, the AC text supplies, in square brackets, a reference to the specific rule(s) being discussed.

On January 11,1993, we, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), published Advisory Circular (AC) 20-115B recognizing RTCA/DO-178B, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification, dated December 1, 1992, as a means, but not the only means, to seek FAA approval of airborne software. RTCA/DO-178B is recognized by industry and certification authorities as an accepted approach for assuring that software in airborne systems and equipment has been developed to meet the safety objectives of the regulations.

This AC identifies what you, as an applicant, will have to address and document when you propose an alternative approach to that defined in RTCA/DO-178B. This AC is intended to provide you, the applicant, with guidance on how to establish that your proposed alternative provides the same level of assurance as that provided in RTCA/DO-178B for airborne software.  Your proposed alternative should be evaluated in conjunction with the certification process and applied to airborne systems and equipment (containing software) for which you are seeking FAA approval in order to obtain a Type Certificate, Supplemental Type Certificate, Amended Type Certificate, or Amended Supplemental Type Certificate.

This advisory circular (AC) recognizes the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 4754A, Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems, dated December 21, 2010, as an acceptable method for establishing a development assurance process. SAE ARP 4754A discusses the development of aircraft and systems taking into account the overall aircraft operating environment and functions. This includes validation of requirements and verification of the design implementation for certification and process assurance.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance for the installation and airworthiness approval of flight deck system control devices, from primarily a human factors perspective.  It does not address primary flight controls, secondary flight controls, or controls that are not located in the flight deck.   This AC addresses traditional dedicated controls such as physical switches and knobs, as well as multifunction controls such as touch screens and cursor control devices. 

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance material for the airworthiness approval of installed positioning and navigation equipment. This revision corrects minor errors, clarifies guidance, adds a frequently asked question section, and updates technical standard order (TSO) information. Major changes in this AC reflect TSO-C129a cancellation; updated guidance related to TSO-C115c; clarifying information in paragraphs 14-6.8 and 14-8.13 for the ground proximity warning system/terrain awareness and warning system (GPWS/TAWS) glideslope alerting function, and adding additional testing procedures in Appendix 4 for global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that support automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B).

a.

The guidance in this advisory circular (AC) provides one acceptable means of

b.

compliance, but not the only means, for type design approval of aircraft that have a data link

system installed.

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance on compliance with the applicable Regulations for the airworthiness and operational approval for digital flight data recorder systems (DFDRS).

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance on airworthiness approval for designers, manufacturers, and installers of satellite voice equipment supportingair traffic service (ATS).  In this AC, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends one way to gain airworthiness approval for satellite voice equipment.  This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation.  This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to gain airworthiness approval for your satellite voice equipment.  However, if you use the means described in this AC, you must follow it in its entirety.

This advisory circular (AC) provides applicants guidance for obtaining an airworthiness approval for traffic alert collision avoidance systems (TCAS II). It also provides guidance for certification of a stand-alone Mode S transponder system. This AC includes the TCAS II version 7.0 plus the new version 7.1 and performance standards for the optional functionality of TCAS II hybrid surveillance.