Introduction
EASA has long recognised that a permanent installation of an electronic conspicuity device is superior to a carry on version in every respect for the following reasons.
· Equipment can be hidden away with no cables showing.
· Remote antennas can be placed in optimal positions
· A remote GPS can be placed in an optimal position.
· A Power supply can be provided via the aircraft battery.
· The performance is improved
· Obscuration is minimised.
Installing in Permit Aircraft.
Installing PilotAware in a permit aircraft is very easy and a permanent installation is not regarded as a major modification. Please contact your permit provider. In the UK this will be the LAA or the BMAA engineering departments.
Installing in CAA Certified aircraft
Following Brexit the CAA is no longer a member of the EASA system. At the point of exit on 31st December 2020, the current rules and AMC (such as CS-STAN) were frozen at the issue current at that time. This was CS-STAN Issue 3. Subsequently the additional Standard Change CS-SC057a described below and introduced in CS-STAN Issue 4, has not yet been harmonised into the UK standards. However the installation of antennas described in CS STAN Issue 3 Standard Change CS-004a has been harmonised into the UK so the acceptable practices listed in CS-STAN Issue 3 for SC004a are considered valid in the UK at this time and can be used for the installation of external antennas on CAA Certified Aircraft.
A request has been made to the CAA policy team to see where CS-STAN issue 4 might sit in the rulemaking programme going forwards. The following shows our compatibility to CS-STAN Issue 4.
Installing in EASA Certified Aircraft.
For aircraft Certified by EASA, revised Certification Specifications for Standard Changes and Standard Repairs (CS-STAN) now applies.
A new version of CS-STAN (Issue4) was released on April2022. In this version, Standard Change CS-SC057a describes the light touch approval applied for the installation of Electronic Conspicuity that specifically does not transmit on an aviation frequency. This includes PilotAware and Flarm devices. This complements the existing approval for the installation of Antennas via standard Change CS-SC004b.
The full wording of Standard Change CSSC057a is available from the EASA website by clicking the following URL. https://www.easa.europa.eu/downloads/136407/en.
To assist users who want to take advantage of permanently installing their PilotAware units in EASA certified aircraft, the following data is the PilotAware compliant response to Standard Change CS-SC075a.
General.
PilotAware provides installation kits that include antennas that are remote from the carry on box that contains the antennas. The installation kit with remote internal antennas is regarded as carry-on equipment as far as Standard Change CS-SC075a. is concerned as they do NOT require any modification to the aircraft. The installation of antennas from the external installation kit should be installed using the approval of Standard Change CS-SC04b. Carry on Rosettas are out of the scope of CS-STAN. No approval is required.
Standard Changes CS-SC04b and CS-SC075a as applied to PilotAware Devices.
Applicability/Eligibility
This Standard Change is applicable to PilotAware installations in aircraft as follows;
— have an MTOM of 3175 kg or less;
— are certified for a maximum passenger seating configuration of 9 passengers or fewer;
— are not approved for Category A (CAT A), or equivalent to CAT A, operations;
The following list provides a declaration of the installation of the various elements
Related Declaration
Conditions
Internal Batteries.
There are no internal batteries in any PilotAware Products. Batteries, if used are external commercial USB battery packs from Anker.
Internal Antenna
There is no internal antenna on a PilotAware device used for a permanent installation.
External Antenna
Two external antennas of the TED type are used (i) for transmitting on 869.525 MHz (ii) for receiving on 1090MHz. An external ground plane is required. CS-S004() applies to the installation of these antennas
Emitter outside the aeronautical frequency band.
Emitter complies with the ISM (SRD) band conformant to ETSI EN 330-220 (Short range radio devices).
Emitter within the aeronautical frequency band
Not applicable none used.
Receiver
Receiver 1 (869.525MHz) is outside the aeronautical frequency band. Receiver 2 (1090MHz) is a Software-defined receive only device.
Aircraft position.
GLONASS GPS source no Authorisation required.
Display.
Instructions on how to link the EC device to a smart tablet are provided. The link is via WiFi using 802.11n. Displays used by PilotAware devices are independent of any other displays.
Embodiment
PilotAware relies exclusively on its own systems/units in order to provide its intended function. Data connectivity between approved devices is not required or used.
PilotAware is not exclusively powered by internal batteries. Therefore the installer should; Follow the guidelines set out in Chapter 2 of FAA Advisory Circular AC 43.13-2B or equivalent standards.
The installer verifies that the power consumption is compatible with the aircraft installation. The results of the electrical-load analysis are recorded, or referred to, in EASA Form 123.
The power consumption of PilotAWare Rosetta or Classic devices is <12W max (5V 2.1A max when transmitting)
The installer follows the instructions from the equipment manufacturer for electrical protection.
A fuse of 2A should be provided between the 12V supply and the Cigarette lighter socket
If a non-essential supply (bus bar) exists, the installer uses this bus to power the electronic conspicuity (EC) function or device.
As applicable
The installer follows the wiring instructions from the equipment manufacturer and the guidelines from FAA AC 43.13-1B or equivalent standards.
Installation instructions and best practices are supplied with the installation kit.
The maximum mass of the EC device does not exceed 300 g. For a mass slightly above 300 g, the installer shall assess the compatibility of the mounting instructions from the equipment manufacturer with the characteristics of the intended mounting location.
The PilotAware Rosetta or Classic unit weighs less than 300grms.
The electronic conspicuity (EC) function or device may be permanently fitted to the aircraft or it may use a mounting system that may be installed by following the conditions of CS-SC105().
As required for each installation.
The installer follows the equipment manufacturer's instructions and tests.
Instructions and testing process are supplied with the Installation kit and online.
The installer performs ground tests in order to assess whether the performance of the installation is adequate, and complements or substitutes ground tests with installation check flights, as necessary. Refer to CS STAN.48 in Subpart A for additional guidance on installation check flights.
Such tests shall verify whether the arrangement of the electronic conspicuity (EC) function or device in the cockpit is suitable (in particular, no impairment of the pilot’s view, absence of glare and reflections), as well as the electrical bonding, the correct functioning of all other equipment installed in the aircraft, and the lack of interference (EMI/EMC) with other systems. FAA Advisory Circular AC 43.13-1B, Chapter 11, or ASTM F2639-18 or subsequent revisions, provide an acceptable means to perform an EMI/EMC test.
Limitations
Any limitations defined by the equipment manufacturer apply.
Limitations on the performance of PilotAware are documented in the operating instructions. None are specific to the installation other than the power supply and cable supplied as a minimum should be used.
In the case of aircraft approved for NVISs/NVGs, the change cannot be considered a SC.
This SC cannot generally be used to extend the operational capability of the specific aircraft. However, this does not preclude the installation of another SC that enhances operations. One typical example is the concurrent installation of a Mode S transponder according to CS-SC002c conditions.
Noted
The outputs of the EC function or device provide traffic indications. The information generated by the EC function or device can be presented visually, audibly, or both visually and audibly, to provide pilots with information on other nearby traffic.
PilotAware devices provide both audio and visual alerts to non-certified third-party devices
·The outputs of the EC function or device must not be input to an AFCS or to any system required by airworthiness or operational rules.
Noted
·The electronic conspicuity (EC) function or device must NOT give any advice on how to avoid traffic.
PilotAware is a situational awareness device only and does not provide any
The installed electronic conspicuity (EC) function or device must not generate alerts that override other alerts generated by other rotorcraft systems that need more immediate crew action.
PilotAware does not generate alerts that override other alerts. The voice output can be connected to a voice radio that dims the output accordingly. It is recommended that an attenuator and switch is installed in series as described in the installation instructions
The use of an electronic conspicuity (EC) function or device is limited to prompting an additional visual scan for traffic and/or obstacles displayed by the EC function.
Noted PilotAware is sold on the basis of it being a secondary surveillance aid only
For IFR aircraft, a display installed as part of this SC can only replace an existing display that is not required for the specific operation.
PilotAware is sold for VMC and VFR only.
All the relevant integrated databases (e.g. for obstacles) must be current.
PilotAware does not contain a database for obstacle avoidance.
5. Manuals
Amend the aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) with instructions for carrying out software and database updates.
Done for manual automatic updates.
Amend the AFM with an AFMS to include information stating ‘For airborne traffic awareness and obstacle situational awareness only (as applicable)’ or similar information, together with any necessary operating instructions, procedures or limitations. Instructions should remind operators to regularly update obstacle databases.
Done
Amend the ICAs to establish maintenance actions/inspections and intervals, as required.
6. Release to service
· This SC is not suitable for the release to service of the aircraft by the pilot-owner.