Transportation Department, Federal Aviation Administration
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede Airworthiness Directive 2004-10-15, which applies to certain GTX 330 and GTX 330D Mode S transponders that are installed on airplanes. AD 2004-10-15 currently requires you to install GTX 330/330D Software Upgrade Version 3.03, 3.04, or 3.05. This AD applies to certain GTX 33, GTX 33D, GTX 330, and GTX 330D Mode S transponders that are installed on airplanes and is the result of observations that the GTX 33/33D/330/330D may detect, from other airplanes, the S1 (suppression) interrogating pulse below the minimum trigger level (MTL) and, in some circumstances, not reply. The GTX 33/33D/330/330D should still reply even if it detects S1 interrogating pulses below the MTL. Consequently, this AD would require you to install a GTX 33/33D/330/ 330D Software Upgrade to at least Version 3.06. No additional action is necessary for those airplanes that have transponders Software Upgrade 3.03 installed. Software Upgrade Versions 3.03 and 3.06 correct a TAS, TCAD, and TCAS I system "whisper-shout" problem that could potentially lead to the aircraft not being visible at certain ranges. TCAS II systems are not affected. We are issuing this AD to prevent interrogating aircraft from possibly receiving inaccurate replies due to suppression from aircraft equipped with the GTX 33/33D/330/330D Mode S transponders when the pulses are below the MTL. The inaccurate replies could result in reduced vertical separation.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2004-18743; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-23-AD; Amendment 39-13944; AD 2005-01-19] RIN 2120-AA64 AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede Airworthiness Directive 2004-10-15, which applies to certain GTX 330 and GTX 330D Mode S transponders that are installed on airplanes. AD 2004-10-15 currently requires you to install GTX 330/330D Software Upgrade Version 3.03, 3.04, or 3.05. This AD applies to certain GTX 33, GTX 33D, GTX 330, and GTX 330D Mode S transponders that are installed on airplanes and is the result of observations that the GTX 33/33D/330/330D may detect, from other airplanes, the S1 (suppression) interrogating pulse below the minimum trigger level (MTL) and, in some circumstances, not reply. The GTX 33/33D/330/330D should still reply even if it detects S1 interrogating pulses below the MTL. Consequently, this AD would require you to install a GTX 33/33D/330/330D Software Upgrade to at least Version 3.06. No additional action is necessary for those airplanes that have transponders Software Upgrade 3.03 installed. Software Upgrade Versions 3.03 and 3.06 correct a TAS, TCAD, and TCAS I system “whisper-shout” problem that could potentially lead to the aircraft not being visible at certain ranges. TCAS II systems are not affected. We are issuing this AD to pr…
Other Federal Register documents from the same docket.
Citation: 70 FR 2937
