13 March 2012

Low Powered Surveillance Equipment

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 49 (Tuesday, March 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 14856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-5926]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Public Meeting With Interested Persons To Discuss the Proposed 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Draft Technical Standard Order 
(TSO)-C199 Establishing the Minimum Performance Standard (MPS) for Low 
Powered Surveillance Equipment (LPSE)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will be holding a 
public meeting to discuss issuing a new Technical Standard Order (TSO). 
This TSO will define a minimum performance standard (MPS) for avionic 
surveillance equipment, for aircraft that are currently exempt from 
using ATC transponder and altitude reporting equipment or automatic 
dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B Out) equipment as defined in 
Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Sec. Sec.  91.215 
and 91.225.
    Meeting Dates and Location:

DATES: This meeting will be held on April 4-5, in Washington, DC.

ADDRESSES: FAA Headquarters, 800 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 
20591.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To obtain additional details and to 
register for this meeting, please contact: Mr. John Fisher, AIR-130, 
Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, 
Avionics Systems Branch, 470 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Fourth floor, 
Washington, DC 20591, Telephone (202) 385-4948, FAX: (202) 385-4651, 
Email: john.d.fisher@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Currently, certain types of aircraft, such as gliders, balloons, 
and aircraft not originally certified with an electrical system, as 
defined in Sec. Sec.  91.215(b)(3), 91.215(b)(5), 91.225(e)(1), and 
91.225(e)(2), are not required to carry a transponder or ADS-B Out 
equipment when flying in the National Airspace System (NAS). Available 
data shows that where glider flight operations coincide with powered 
aircraft flight operations, the likelihood of a mishap is greatest. To 
mitigate this risk, the FAA proposes a new, low powered surveillance 
system (LPSE) that will interface with aircraft equipped with current 
collision avoidance systems, such as Traffic Avoidance System (TAS), 
Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System I and II (TCAS I) (TCAS 
II), and those aircraft equipped with ADS-B In and display capability. 
The FAA intends to hold a public meeting to facilitate a technical 
interchange with equipment manufacturers, potential users, and 
interested parties, to discuss technical LPSE design considerations. 
The FAA envisions a new TSO-C199, Low Powered Surveillance Equipment 
(LPSE) that will provide an effective way for gliders, balloons, and 
aircraft not originally certified with an electrical system to 
interface with current collision avoidance systems.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 7, 2012.
Susan J.M. Cabler,
Assistant Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-5926 Filed 3-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P