Avionics News February 2017 - 13

installers on determining the compatibility of the installation
of approved changes to type design where previously
approved changes to type design are installed on aircraft.
Previously approved changes include other major or minor
changes to type design approved under Title 14 of the Code
of Federal Regulations Part 21, Certification Procedures for
Products and Parts. Alterations or repairs to aircraft approved
pursuant to Part 43, Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance,
Rebuilding and Alteration should also be considered.
Although this AC focuses on the installation of changes to
type design approved via supplemental type certificate or
amended type certificate where previously approved changes
exist, the principles and guidance are applicable to alterations
approved in a manner other than STC or amended type
certificate where previously approved changes exist.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
United States
Test equipment calibration standards
The following information is from the Federal
Aviation Administration.

QUESTION:

14 CFR 145.211 (c) (viii) requires repair stations to
include a description of the system and procedures the
repair station uses for calibrating measuring and test
equipment used in maintaining articles. What are the
acceptable standards the repair station should use for
managing their test equipment calibration?

ANSWER:

FAA Advisory Circular 43.13-1B section 5
addresses avionics test equipment.
Paragraph 12-71 Test Equipment Calibration
Standards contains the following information:
a. The test equipment calibration standards
must be derived from and traceable to one of
the following:
(1) The National Institute of Standards and
Technology.
(2) Standards established by the test
equipment manufacturer.

Transponder requirement for gliders
The FAA has withdrawn a previously published
advance notice of proposed rulemaking that sought
public comment from interested persons involving
glider operations in the national airspace system. The
action responded to recommendations from members
of Congress and the National Transportation Safety
Board, and was intended to gather information to
determine whether the current glider exception from
transponder equipage and use provides the appropriate
level of safety in the national airspace system. The
FAA has withdrawn that action because it determined
that the limited safety benefit gained does not justify
the high cost of equipage.

(3) If foreign-manufactured test
equipment, the standards of the country,
where it was manufactured, if approved by
the administrator.
d. If the repair station uses a standard for
performing calibration, that calibration
standard cannot be used to perform
maintenance.
e. The calibration intervals for test equipment
will vary with the type of equipment,
environment and use. The accepted industry
practice for calibration intervals is usually
one year. Considerations for acceptance of the
intervals include the following:
(1) Manufacturer's recommendation for
the type of equipment.
(2) Repair facility's past calibration
history, as applicable.
f. If the manufacturer's manual does not
describe a test procedure, the repair station
must coordinate with the manufacturer to
develop the necessary procedures, prior to any
use of the equipment.
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avionics news

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february

2017

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News February 2017
