EASA SIB No.: 2017-14
Safety Information Bulletin
Operations
SIB No.: 2017-14
Issued: 06 September 2017
Subject: Terrain Awareness Warning Systems
Ref. Publications:
- EASA Opinion 15/2016 Terrain awareness warning systems (TAWS) operation in instrument flight
rules (IFR) and visual flight rules (VFR), for turbine-powered aeroplanes of less than 5 700 kg
maximum certified take-off mass able to carry six to nine passengers;
- Commission Regulation (EU) 965/2012 of 05 October 2012 (hereafter referred to as the Air
Operations regulation), in particular CAT.IDE.A.150 and SPO.IDE.A.130;
- International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 6, Part I “International Commercial Air
Transport – Aeroplanes”, particularly, Section 6.15.5, and Part II “International General Aviation –
Aeroplanes”, particularly Section 2.4.11.2;
- Italian ANSV Accident Investigation Report (OE-FAN 24/02/2004);
- German BFU Accident Investigation Report (BFU 3X004-09);
- Spanish CIAIAC Accident Investigation Report (A-07/1998);
- French BEA Accident Investigation Report (v2-I080628);
- UK AAIB Accident Investigation Report (G-BYCP 03/10/2015).
Applicability:
Turbine-powered aeroplanes with a maximum certified take-off mass (MCTOM) of less than
5 700 kg, and a maximum operational passenger seating configuration (MOPSC) of six to nine
passengers.
Description:
Following a review of the existing regulatory mitigation for the risk of controlled flight into terrain
(CFIT) accidents with small turbine-powered aeroplanes, in 2014 the Agency launched the
Rulemaking Tasks RMT.0371 and RMT.0372 on TAWS. The objective was to reduce the probability
of accidents categorised as a CFIT for turbine-powered aeroplanes having a MCTOM of less than
5700 kg and a MOPSC between six and nine.
As a result of these tasks, EASA Opinion 15/2016 was published on 16 December 2016. The
Opinion proposes a regulatory change to the Air Operations regulation, to require turbine-
powered aeroplanes performing commercial operations, for which the individual Certificate of
Airworthiness (CofA) is first issued after 01 January 2019, having a MCTOM of 5 700 kg or less and
a MOPSC of six to nine, to be equipped with a TAWS that meets the requirements for Class B
equipment, as specified in an acceptable standard. Existing guidance material defines ‘acceptable
standard’ as the applicable ETSO issued by the Agency (e.g. ETSO-C151b), or equivalent.
The regulation modifying the Air Operations regulation will be published to incorporate the
proposed amendments.
This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.
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EASA SIB No.: 2017-14
Within the framework of the RMTs, mandating TAWS to be installed on existing aeroplanes
(retrofit) and to be applied to all operations (including non-commercial) was also considered. The
outcome of the data analysis and impact assessment did not support this, especially taking into
account the principle of proportionality for general aviation legislation. However, considering the
potential safety benefits of TAWS, i.e. further reducing the probability of CFIT accidents, and
taking into account that ICAO1 recommends that all turbine-engined aeroplanes of a MCTOM of
5700 kg or less and authorized to carry more than five but not more than nine passengers should
be equipped with a ground proximity warning system, there are significant grounds to advise the
installation of TAWS on such aeroplanes on a voluntary basis.
Recommendations:
Considering all available information, EASA recommends that owners and operators of aeroplanes
within the Applicability of this SIB, as well as affected aeroplane manufacturers, take the following
actions:
Install a TAWS that meets the requirements for Class B equipment, as specified in an
acceptable standard, e.g. ETSO-C151b, or equivalent;
Ensure that TAWS functions which are part of already installed avionics equipment are not
inhibited or disabled. The aircraft maintenance programme should also include measures to
ensure those functions are not affected.
Contact:
For further information contact the EASA Safety Information Section, Certification Directorate,
E-mail:
[email protected].
1
Annex 6, Part I, Section 6.15.5 and Part II, Section 2.4.11.2
This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.
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