EASA SIB No.: 2017-XX
Safety Information Bulletin
Operations
SIB No.: 2017-XX
Issued: XX August 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 5 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 receipt of safety recommendations (SRs) ITAL-2009-001, SPAN-2012-010,
FRAN-2009-009 and UNKG-2016-055, an action to review the existing regulatory mitigation for the
risk of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents with small turbine-powered aeroplanes was
introduced into the European Aviation Safety Plan (later renamed European Plan for Aviation
Safety) in 2012.
ITAL-2009-001 states that TAWSs would have reduced the probability of occurrence of the
accident, similarly to SPAN-2012-010, while FRAN-2009-009 proposes to require operators to
develop a policy and procedures for the use of a TAWS, depending on the flight rules (IFR or VFR).
UNKG-2016-055 proposes to require all in-service and future turbine aeroplanes with a MCTOM of
5 700 kg or less and with a MOPSC of between six and nine passengers to be fitted with, as a
minimum standard, a Class B TAWS certified to European Technical Standards Order (ETSO) C151b.
Furthermore, the ICAO recommends in its Annex 6, Part I, Section 6.15.5 and Part II, Section
2.4.11.2, that “All turbine-engined aeroplanes of a maximum certified take-off mass of 5 700 kg or
This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.
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EASA SIB No.: 2017-XX
less and authorized to carry more than five but not more than nine passengers should be
equipped with a ground proximity warning system”.
Rulemaking Tasks RMT.0371 and RMT.0372 on TAWS were launched in 2014. The objective of the
tasks was to reduce the probability of accidents categorised as a CFIT for turbine-powered
aeroplanes having a MCTOM of less than 5 700 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 is first issued after 1 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 EASA (e.g. ETSO-C151b), or equivalent.
The regulation modifying the Air Operations regulation will be published to incorporate the
proposed amendments.
Within the framework of the RMTs, mandating TAWS to be installed on existing aeroplanes
(retrofit) and to be applied 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, there is
sufficient cause for installation of TAWS on certain aeroplanes, on a voluntary basis, regardless of
the kind(s) of operation.
Recommendations:
Considering all available information, EASA recommends that owners and operators of existing
aeroplanes (see Applicability), as well as manufacturers of new aeroplanes, 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].
This is information only. Recommendations are not mandatory.
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Dear Madam/Sir,
Please find attached hereto a preliminary draft for an EASA Safety Information Bulletin (SIB) [task
2017.206] regarding
Terrain Awareness Warning Systems
for consultation until 5 August 2017.
We would be grateful to you if you could send any comment(s) to
[email protected] by making
reference to [task 2017.206], no later than the above-mentioned deadline.
Safety Information Section Email:
[email protected]
EASA Website
(Attachment is in Acrobat PDF format)
Postal: Postfach 10 12 53, 50452 Cologne, Germany
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