Airworthiness Clearance for Operations in Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) Airspace

Effective Date: 21 May 2020

Reference: C-05-005-001/AG-002 – Airworthiness Design Standards Manual,
                     Part 3, Chapter 3

OPI/Telephone: DTAES 6 / 819-939-4844

Alternate Format

1. Purpose

1.1 This Technical Airworthiness Authority (TAA) Advisory provides guidance on obtaining airworthiness approval and Technical Airworthiness Clearance (TAC), as well as an Operational Airworthiness Clearance (OAC) for Department of National Defense and the Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF) aircraft to operate in Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) airspace.

1.2 Specifically, this document provides advisory material for:

  1. demonstrating compliance with certification requirements that are applicable to PBN designs, as specified in Parts 2 and 3 of the Technical Airworthiness Manual (TAM) (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a);
  2. demonstrating compliance with the PBN design and certification requirements specified in Part 3, Chapter 3 of the Airworthiness Design Standards Manual (ADSM) (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b);
  3. defining the PBN means of compliance to be used in demonstrating compliance with the certification basis; and
  4. obtaining a Technical Airworthiness Clearance (TAC) and Operational Airworthiness Clearance (OAC) for a PBN capability.

1.3 This advisory augments the airworthiness regulatory requirements for design certification, TAC and OAC that are published in the following regulatory references:

  1. Type Certification – TAM, Part 2, Chapter 1 (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a);
  2. Design Change Certification – TAM, Part 3, Chapter 2 (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a);
  3. Technical Airworthiness Clearance – TAM, Part 2, Chapter 3 (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a);
  4. Performance-Based Navigation – ADSM, Part 3, Chapter 3 (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b); and
  5. Operational Airworthiness Manual – OAM, Chapter 3, Section 312, (regulatory reference 3.2.1.c).

2. Applicability

2.1 This advisory applies to all DND/CAF personnel, as well as their support contractors, who are seeking to obtain an airworthiness approval for a PBN capability on DND/CAF aircraft.  This advisory replaces TAA Advisory 2012-02 – Required Navigation Performance/Performance-Based Navigation [RESCINDED].

2.2 This advisory is applicable to aircraft installations that use Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), Distance Measuring Equipment (DME), Very High Frequency (VHF) Omni-Directional Range (VOR) or inertial reference systems (IRS) in PBN operations.

2.3 This advisory is not applicable to the certification of precision approach systems, such as Instrument Landing Systems (ILS) or GNSS Landing Systems (GLS), nor is it applicable to standalone VHF Omni-Range (VOR) and Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) installations.

2.4 This guidance may be adapted for use in performing the Type Design Examination (TDE) of a PBN capability that has been previously approved by a TAA-recognized airworthiness authority.

2.5 Throughout this document, the term ‘Applicant’ is used to refer to the organization applying for a PBN design approval. For a new DND/CAF aircraft fleet, this is normally the Systems Engineering Manager (SEM) in a Project Management Office (PMO).  For design changes to existing DND/CAF aircraft, the applicant is the Weapon System Management (WSM) organization.

2.6 The standard Operational Airworthiness Clearance (OAC) requirements are defined in the Operational Airworthiness Manual (OAM) (regulatory reference 3.2.1.c).  Annex J to this advisory identifies the specific PBN requirements associated with issuing an OAC.

3. Related Material

3.1 Definitions.  The terminology used in this document are from either the Glossary of the Technical Airworthiness Manual (TAM) (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a) or the Airworthiness Design Standards Manual (ADSM), Part 3, Chapter 3 (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b).

3.2 References

3.2.1 Regulatory References

  1. C-05-005-001/AG-001 – Technical Airworthiness Manual (TAM);
  2. C-05-005-001/AG-002 – Airworthiness Design Standards Manual (ADSM) – Part 3, Chapter 3 – Aircraft Navigation Systems; and
  3. B-GA-104-000/FP-001 – Operational Airworthiness Manual (OAM).

3.2.2 Non-Regulatory References

  1. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Advisory Circular (AC) 20-138D – Change 2 (or later revision) – Airworthiness Approval of Positioning and Navigation Systems (also available internally, within DND, at AEPM RDIMS library #1932981);
  2. ICAO Navigation Specifications –Navigation Specifications are published in the ICAO PBN Manual, Volume II, Parts B (RNAV) and Part C (RNP);
  3. ICAO PBN Manual, Performance Based Navigation (PBN) Manual – Fourth Edition – 2013, Doc 9613-AN/937 (available internally, within DND, at AEPM RDIMS library #1847267);
  4. RTCA DO‑200B – Standards for Processing Aeronautical Data;
  5. RTCA DO‑283B – Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Required Navigation Performance for Area Navigation;
  6. RTCA DO‑236C with Change 1– Minimum Aviation Systems Performance Standards: Required Navigation Performance for Area Navigation;
  7. RTCA DO-229D – Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Global Positioning System/Wide Area Augmentation System (GPS/WAAS) Airborne Equipment;
  8. FAA TSO-C115dRequired Navigation Performance (RNP) Equipment - Multi-Sensor Inputs;
  9. ICAO Doc 4444PANS-ATM, Procedures for Aircraft Navigation Services – Air Traffic Management, 2016, 16th Edition;
  10. EASA Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) 2014‑04 – RNP Approach with Baro-VNAV;
  11. FAA AC 20-129  (Cancelled) –  Airworthiness Approval of Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Systems for use in the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) and Alaska;
  12. EASA Certification Memo (CM) AS‑002 Issue: 02, dated 28 March 2014;
  13. RCAF Flight Operations Manual (21 Dec 2019);
  14. FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 20-153Acceptance of Aeronautical Data Processes and Associated Databases; and
  15. RTCA DO-229 – Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Global Positioning System/Wide Area Augmentation Systems Airborne Equipment.

Note: As a matter of courtesy, the staff of the Director – Technical Airworthiness and Engineering Support 6 may provide copies of up-to-date versions of the RTCA publications referenced above.  To obtain a copy, contact the Team Leader – Avionics Systems Engineering – Navigation and Flight Deck, DTAES 6-4.

3.3 Airworthiness Requirements

3.3.1 Adding a PBN capability to a DND/CAF aircraft is a major design change that requires a Technical Airworthiness Clearance (TAC) and an Operational Airworthiness Clearance (OAC) before the capability can be released for operational use.

3.3.2 Technical Airworthiness Clearance. A PBN design must meet the standard certification and TAC requirements defined in the TAM (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a) rules and standards for a new aircraft design, or an in-service design change. In addition, there are PBN-specific requirements published the ADSM (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b).

3.3.3 Operational Airworthiness Clearance. The standard OAC requirements are defined in the Operational Airworthiness Manual (OAM) (regulatory reference 3.2.1.c). Annex J to this advisory identifies the specific PBN requirements associated with issuing an OAC.

3.3.4 ICAO Navigation Specifications. As described in the ADSM (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b), paragraph 3.3.7.7, the TAA and OAA have adopted the ICAO Navigation Specifications as the primary DND requirements applicable to the certification and approval of PBN capabilities for DND/CAF aircraft. The Navigation Specifications are published in Volumes 2 of the ICAO PBN Manual (reference 3.2.2.c).

3.3.5 FAA Advisory Circular (AC) 20-138D. As described in the ADSM (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b), paragraph 3.3.7.16, the TAA and OAA have adopted the FAA’s Advisory Circular (AC) No. 20-138D (reference 3.2.2.a) as the TAA’s preferred means of demonstrating compliance with the PBN design, certification and certification requirements that are published in the ICAO Navigation Specifications (reference 3.2.2.b). AC 20-138D embodies up-to-date guidance built on the FAA’s extensive knowledge and experience. Throughout this document and its annexes, any reference to AC 20-138D will mean AC 20-138D Change 2, or subsequent version.

4. Discussion

4.1 Background

4.1.1 Performance-Based Navigation (PBN) is is a core element of the wider air traffic management initiative called Communications, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM). The CNS/ATM concept specifies that, before aircraft are allowed access to PBN designated airspace, the aircraft navigation systems must have been certified as meeting the PBN performance requirements that are defined in terms of accuracy, integrity, continuity and functionality. PBN provides the means to achieve the operational capabilities required to enable global operations with and, in some cases, without constant Air Traffic Control (ATC) monitoring/surveillance. 

4.1.2 The PBN concept requires that any aircraft authorized to fly in PBN airspace be certified by their national airworthiness authority (civilian or military), as meeting the applicable PBN navigation specification requirements. To avoid denial of access to PBN-designated airspace, DND/CAF aircraft must be equipped and certified to meet the performance requirements associated with the PBN-designated airspace in Canada and world-wide. Additional PBN system descriptive information is available in the ADSM, Part 3, Chapter 3, paragraph 3.3.7 (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b).

4.1.3 The certification of a PBN capability shall follow the normal design certification process defined in the TAM (regulatory reference 3.2.1.a), plus those additional PBN-specific requirements identified in the Part 3, Chapter 3 of the ADSM (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b), including:

  1. following the provisions of the DND/CAF Airworthiness Program policy for CNS/ATM and its application for PBN;
  2. applying FAA Advisory Circular 20-138D – Airworthiness Approval of Positioning and Navigation Systems during the certification program, as the TAA-preferred means of demonstrating compliance for PBN; and
  3. developing and obtaining approval of a PBN Capability Statement that will be inserted into the AFM/AOI.

4.1.4 In addition to the PBN design and certification requirements described in the ADSM, it is recommended that the following documents, described in this advisory (with additional guidance on development provided in its annexes), be developed to support the PBN design certification process:

  1. PBN Criteria Table;
  2. PBN Design Assessment Report; and
  3. Airworthiness Approval Substantiation Report.

4.1.5 The primary elements of the airworthiness approval process for a PBN design are illustrated in Figure 1

4.2 Process Overview

4.2.1 As shown in Figure 1, the airworthiness approval process for a new PBN capability is based on the following steps:

  1. Step 1Identifying the PBN Operational Requirements.  Using the PBN operational requirements provided by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Air Staff, the applicant identifies the specific RNP and RNAV capabilities and functions that are required for a particular DND/CAF aircraft fleet. Annex A provides additional guidance on this step.

Figure 1 – PBN Design Certification Process

Figure 1 – PBN Design Certification Process

This figure outlines the eight steps of the Performance-Based Navigation Design Certification process, as described in the advisory.

  1. Step 2: Developing the Certification Plan, Certification Basis and PBN Criteria. The applicant is responsible for preparing the certification plan, the certification basis and selecting the appropriate PBN criteria. Annex B provides guidance on the process of developing the certification plan, certification basis and PBN criteria table. This step consist of the following three sub-steps:
    1. Step 2a: Developing the Certification Basis. The certification basis will be composed of certification requirements selected from one of the approved civil or military airworthiness codes identified in the ADSM, Part 1, Chapter 2, (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b). An example of a PBN certification basis is provided in Table B-1 of Annex B. This table identifies representative civil and military certification requirements that may be applicable to a PBN design.
    2. Step 2b: Drafting the Compliance Matrix. As stated in para 3.3.5, AC 20-138D has been designated as the TAA’s preferred means of demonstrating compliance to the PBN certification requirements. An example of Compliance Matrix is provided in Table B-2 of Annex B.
    3. Step 2c: Selecting the Applicable PBN Criteria. A PBN Criteria Table is created by selecting the PBN criteria available in AC 20-138D that correspond to the RNP and RNAV capabilities identified in Step 1. The PBN Criteria Table will constitute the applicable set of PBN design and certification requirements for a specific PBN design. Advisory material for the PBN Criteria Table is provided in Annex C. Annex D provides additional technical criteria, beyond those provided in AC 20-138D.
  2. Step 3: Obtaining TAA Approval of the Certification Plan. The certification plan shall be submitted to the DTAES 3 Section Head for approval. It is recommended that the compliance matrix and PBN Criteria Table also be submitted for approval at the same time.
  3. Step 4: Preparing the Design Assessment Report. Once the design has been developed and tested, it is recommended that the applicant prepare a Design Assessment Report to provide the TAA and finding authorities with a summary of the design and compliance data being subitted, to demonstrate that the certification requirements have been satisfied. Guidance material for developing the Design Assessment Report is available in Annex E.
  4. Step 5: Making Findings of Compliance. The findings of compliance will be performed by DTAES 6 staff, or by other individuals authorized by the TAA. The role of the Finding Authorities (FAs) is to review the compliance program data and to determine if the design is compliant with the certification requirements.
  5. Step 6: Substantiation Report (optional). A substantiation report may be required to summarize the work carried out by the TAA staff, in support of the airworthiness approval of the PBN capabiliy. If required, the substantion report will be prepared and staffed by the appropriate DTAES 3 Team Leader. Annex F provides guidance material for developing the report and determining when a report is required.
  6. Step 7: Airworthiness Approval. DTAES 3 will issue the airworthiness approval of the PBN design, based on the completed compliance matrix, the findings of compliance and the Substantiation Report (if required). The airworthiness approval will include the following PBN specific sub-steps:
    1. Step 7a: FM/AOI Updates. The applicant, with the support of the DTAES 6 and DTAES 7 specialists, will prepare the required FM/AOI amendments, including the TAA/OAA approved PBN Capability Statement. Guidance material related to the FM/AOI updates is provided in Annex G.
    2. Step 7b: PBN Capability Statement. The TAC and OAC process for PBN requires that a PBN Capability Statement be developed, approved and inserted into in the FM/AOI. The PBN Capability Statement satisfies the requirements of Chapter 2, section 3.6 of the RCAF Flight Operations Manual, which stipulates that the ‘AOI or Flight Crew Operations Manual (FCOM) must explicitly state that the equipment meets the RNAV (or RNP) specifications.’ Advisory material for the preparation of the capability statements is provided in Annex H.
    3. Step 7c: Limitations and Restrictions. Any PBN-associated limitations or restrictions that will be included in the FM/AOI amendments must be approved by the TAA and the OAA.
    4. Step 7d: Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAs). Any amendments to applicable ICAs that are associated with the PBN-related design change must be approved by a TAA-Authorized Individual (AI). These include any maintenance requirements for the Magnetic Variation (MagVAR) tables and navigation databases.
  7. Step 8: TAC and OAC Approval. The final step in the PBN process is the approval of the TAC and the OAC, as follows:
    1. For a new aircraft fleet, the PBN TAC approval will be included as a component of the main TAC issued by the TAA for the new fleet. For a PBN design change to an in-service fleet, the TAC will be issued by the WSM organization SDE.
    2. The OAC requirements are defined in the Operational Airworthiness Manual (OAM) (regulatory reference 3.2.1.c). Annex J identifies the specific PBN requirements that are applicable to the OAC.

4.3 Navigation Database (NavDB) Support Arrangements

4.3.1 As identified in the ADSM, Part 3, Chapter 3, paragraph (regulatory reference 3.2.1.b), the aeronautical data support arrangements for the navigation databases required for PBN must be suitable for the intended use. The Type Certificate Holder organization is also required to develop a quality procedure that ensures that the applicable NavDB support requirements will continue to be met throughout the service life of the aircraft. Annex I provides advisory material for establishing the appropriate NavDB support arrangements.

4.4 Additional Considerations Related to PBN Design Changes to Legacy Military Designs

4.4.1 While it is expected that the PBN design certification process steps described in this advisory can be applied to the full range DND/CAF aircraft types, adding a PBN capability to legacy military avionics systems may result in certification issues that are not anticipated by the authors of AC-20-138D. Annex K provides guidance on techniques that may be applied to address legacy military aircraft designs issues that may be encountered during the design and certification of a PBN capability.

Page details

Date modified: