AC 20-138D

Advisory circular · Airworthiness Approval of Positioning and Navigation Systems

Approved
March 28, 2014
Last reviewed
June 28, 2017
Family
AC 20-138 · 5 versions
Revision
D
14 CFR parts
1, 3, 11, 14, 15, 16, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 43, 91, 97, 121, 125, 135

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed October 23, 2026.

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Appendix 9 satellite-based navigation, including GPS, GPS/SBAS, GPS/GBAS, GLONASS, Galileo and any other satellite navigation or augmentation system suitable for aviation use within the Aeronautical Radio Navigation Service (ARNS) frequency band.

k. Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS is a U.S. satellite-based radio navigation system that provides a global positioning service. The service provided by GPS for civil use is defined in the September 2008 GPS Standard Positioning System Performance Standard, 4th edition available at http://pnt.gov/public/docs/2008/spsps2008.pdf.

l. GLONASS. GLONASS is a Russian Federation satellite-based radio navigation system providing a global positioning service. GLONASS has 24 operational satellites in their designated orbital slots. But, GLONASS is not yet approved for IFR operations in the U.S.

National Airspace System.

m. Ground-Based Augmentation System (GBAS). GBAS is a localized coverage augmentation system to GPS that calculates integrity and correction data and broadcasts the data to GPS/GBAS users directly from a ground-based transmitter. International GBAS standards are defined in ICAO Annex 10.

n. Letter of Design Approval (LODA). An FAA design approval that is issued only to a foreign (non-U.S.) manufacturer of an appliance that the FAA has found meets a specific TSO. A LODA is not a production approval and does not confer an installation approval. The civil aviation authority for the manufacturer’s country approves and oversees the quality control system and production of the appliance under the provisions of the bilateral agreement with the U.S..

o. Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS). LAAS is the legacy term for the U.S.

implementation of GPS/GBAS.

p. Navigation Computer. Within the context of this AC, navigation refers to any function used to direct the course of an aircraft. A navigation computer as addressed in this AC provides the functions of position estimation, path definition, path steering, and situation indications and alerting to the flight crew.

q. Normal Line of Sight. Established at 15 degrees below the horizontal plane referenced to the design eye position for fixed-wing aircraft (see AC 25-11 latest revision). For rotorcraft, reference the visibility requirements defined in the latest revisions of AC 27-1 and

29-2.

r. Primary Field of View. The vertical and horizontal visual fields relative to the design eye reference point that can be viewed with eye rotation only using foveal or central vision. The values for the horizontal (relative to the normal line of sight) are +/-15 degrees optimum, with +/- 35 degrees maximum. The values for the vertical (relative to normal line of sight) are +/-15 degrees optimum, with + 40 degrees up and -20 degrees down maximum (see AC 25-11 latest revision). The primary field of view definition should be broad enough to include the center radio stack on 14 CFR part 23 airplanes with “classic”, analog basic ‘T’ instrumentation. For rotorcraft, reference the visibility requirements defined in the latest A9-2

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Appendix 9 revisions of AC 27-1 and 29-2.

s. Primary Optimum Field of View. For the purpose of this AC related to RNP AR, the primary optimum field of view is within +/-15 degrees horizontal and vertical relative to the pilot’s normal line of sight.

t. Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring (RAIM). Any algorithm that verifies the integrity of the position output using redundant GPS measurements, or using GPS measurements and barometric aiding, is considered a RAIM algorithm. An algorithm that uses additional information (e.g., multi-sensor system with inertial reference system) to verify the integrity of the position output may be acceptable as a RAIM-equivalent.

u. Required Navigation Performance (RNP). RNP is a statement of the total aircraft navigation performance necessary for operation within a defined airspace.

v. RNAV Multi-Sensor Equipment. This type of navigation system computes and displays one independent or blended position and other navigation data combined from one or more navigation sensors, which provide independent positions.

w. Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS). SBAS is a wide coverage augmentation system to GPS that calculates integrity and correction data on the ground and uses geostationary satellites to broadcast the data to GPS/SBAS users. In the U.S. , this is referred to as Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS).

x. Sensor. Within the context of this AC, a sensor is a device on the aircraft that receives signals from an appropriate antenna to calculate an output supplied to a navigation computer.

y. Stand-alone. Stand-alone as addressed in this AC refers to navigation equipment incorporating both a GNSS position sensor and a navigation computer function in a single unit so that the equipment provides path deviations relative to a selected path.

z. Time of Arrival Control (TOAC). TOAC is a system capability that determines the necessary and available adjustments to aircraft speed and vertical profile necessary to satisfy a required time of arrival (RTA) at a fix.

aa. Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS). WAAS is the U.S. implementation of GPS/SBAS.

A9-2. Acronyms.

14 CFR Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations ABAS Aircraft-Based Augmentation System AC Advisory Circular ACO Aircraft Certification Office ADAHRS Air Data Attitude Heading Reference System ADS-B Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast A9-3

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Appendix 9 AF/D Airport/Facilities Directory AFM Airplane Flight Manual AFMS Airplane Flight Manual Supplement AGL Above Ground Level AHRS Attitude Heading Reference System AIRAC Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control AML Approved Model List APCH Approach (AR) All Revisions ARNS Aeronautical Radio Navigation System ASI Aviation Safety Inspector ATIS Automated Traffic Information System atk Along Track baro-VNAV Barometric Vertical Navigation CA Course to Altitude termination per ARINC 424 CAT I Category I precision approach CDI Course Deviation Indicator CDU Control Display Unit CF Course to Fix per ARINC 424 CFR Code of Federal Regulations DMAX Maximum Use Distance DA Decision Altitude dB Decibel dBc Decibels Relative to Carrier Power dBm Decibels Referenced to one Milliwatt D/D/I DME/DME/Inertial Reference Unit DER Designated Engineering Representative DER Designated End of Runway (for RNP AR only) DF Direct to Fix per ARINC 424 DME Distance Measuring Equipment DOD Department of Defense DOT Department of Transportation DP Departure Procedure EHSI Electronic Horizontal Situation Indicator ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter EMC Electromagnetic Compatibility EMI Electromagnetic Interference EVS Enhanced Vision System FA Fix to Altitude termination per ARINC 424 FAA Federal Aviation Administration FAF Final Approach Fix FAS Final Approach Segment FD Flight Director FDE Fault Detection and Exclusion FGS Flight Guidance System FHS Functional Hazard Assessment FM Fix to Manual termination per ARINC 424 A9-4

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Appendix 9 FMS Flight Management System FOM Figure of Merit FRP Federal Radionavigation Plan FRT Fixed Radius Transition FSTD Flight Simulation Training Device FTE Flight Technical Error FTP Fictitious Threshold Point GBAS Ground-Based Augmentation System GEO Geostationary Orbit Satellite GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System GLS GBAS Landing System GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System GPA Glide Path Angle GPS Global Positioning System GPWS Ground Proximity Warning System HAL Horizontal Alert Limit HAT Height Above Terrain HDOP Horizontal Dilution of Precision HFOM Horizontal Figure of Merit HFOMV Horizontal Figure of Merit (velocity) HMI Hazardously Misleading Information HPL Horizontal Protection Level HSI Horizontal Situation Indicator HTAWS Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System HUL Horizontal Uncertainty Level Hz Hertz ICAO International Civil Aviation Organization IF Initial Fix per ARINC 424 IFR Instrument Flight Rules ILS Instrument Landing System IMC Instrument Meteorological Conditions INS Inertial Navigation System IRS Inertial Reference System IRU Inertial Reference Unit LAAS Local Area Augmentation System LNAV Lateral Navigation LNAV/VNAV Lateral Navigation/Vertical Navigation LOA Letter of Acceptance LOC Localizer LODA Letter of Design Approval LP Localizer Performance without Vertical Guidance LPV Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance LTP Landing Threshold Point MAG Magnetic MEMS Micro-Electro-Mechanical System MLS Microwave Landing System MMR Multi-Mode Receiver A9-5

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Appendix 9 MNPS Minimum Navigation Performance Standards MOPS Minimum Operational Performance Standards MSL Mean Sea Level NACV Navigation Accuracy Category (velocity) NAS National Airspace System NAVAID Navigation Aid NDB Non-Directional Beacon NM Nautical Mile NOTAM Notice to Airmen NSE Navigation System Error NTAP Notices to Airman Publication OBS Omni Bearing Selector ODP Obstacle Departure Procedure OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer PAN Precision and Navigation PAPI Precision Approach Path Indicator PBN Performance-based Navigation PHAC Plan for Hardware Aspects of Certification POH Pilot Operating Handbook PSAC Plan for Software Aspects of Certification PVT Position, Velocity, Time RAIM Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring RF Radius to Fix per ARINC 424 RFM Rotorcraft Flight Manual RFMS Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement RNAV Area Navigation RNP Required Navigation Performance RNP APCH RNP Approach RNP AR . RNP Authorization Required RTA Required Time of Arrival SAAAR Special Aircraft and Aircrew Authorization Required SAPT Service Availability Prediction Tool SATCOM Satellite Communications SBAS Satellite-Based Augmentation System SFAR Special Federal Aviation Regulation SID Standard Instrument Departure STAR Standard Terminal Arrival Route STC Supplemental Type Certificate STC-AML Supplemental Type Certificate Approved Model List SVS Synthetic Vision System TACAN Tactical Air Navigation TAWS Terrain Awareness and Warning System TC Type Certificate TF Track to Fix per ARINC 424 TOAC Time of Arrival Control TOGA Take-Off Go Around TSE Total System Error A9-6

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Appendix 9 TSO Technical Standard Order TSOA Technical Standard Order Authorization VA Heading to Altitude termination per ARINC 424 VAL Vertical Alert Limit VASI Visual Approach Slope Indicator VDB Very High Frequency Data Broadcast VDOP Vertical Dilution of Precision VFOM Vertical Figure of Merit VFOMV Vertical Figure of Merit (velocity) VFR Visual Flight Rules VHF Very High Frequency VI Heading to Intercept per ARINC 424 VM Heading to Manual termination per ARINC 424 VNAV Vertical Navigation VOR Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range VPL Vertical Protection Level VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Ratio URA User Range Accuracy WAAS Wide Area Augmentation System xtk Cross Track A9-7

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Appendix 10 Appendix 10. Related Documents.

A10-1. FAA Advisory Circulars.

a. AC 20-107B, Composite Aircraft Structure.

b. AC 20-115C, Airborne Software Assurance.

c. AC 20-152, RTCA, Inc., Document RTCA/DO-254, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware.

d. AC 20-153B, Acceptance of Data Processes and Associated Navigation Databases.

e. AC 20-159, Obtaining Design and Production Approval of Airport Moving Map Display Applications Intended for Electronic Flight Bag Systems.

f. AC 20-163, Displaying Geometric Altitude Relative to Mean Sea Level.

g. AC 20-165A, Airworthiness Approval of Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) Out Equipment for Operation in the National Airspace System (NAS).

h. AC 20-167, Airworthiness Approval of Enhanced Vision System, Synthetic Vision System, Combined Vision System, and Enhanced Flight Vision System Equipment.

i. AC 20-168, Certification Guidance for Installation of Non-Essential, Non-Required Aircraft Cabin Systems and Equipment.

j. AC 20-169, Guidance and Certification of Military and Special Mission Modifications and Equipment for Commercial Derivative Aircraft (CDA).

k. AC 20-170, Integrated Modular Avionics Development, Verification, Integration, and Approval Using RTCA/DO-297 and Technical Standard Order-C153.

l. AC 20-174, Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems.

m. AC 21-16F, RTCA Document DO-160 versions D, E, and F, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.

n. AC 21-40A, Application Guide for Obtaining a Supplemental Type Certificate.

o. AC 21-46, Technical Standard Order Program.

p. AC 21-50, Installation of TSOA Articles and LODA Appliances.

q. AC 23-8B, Flight Test Guide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes.

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Appendix 10

r. AC 23-13A, Fatigue, Fail-Safe, and Damage Tolerance Evaluation of Metallic Structure for Normal, Utility, Acrobatic, and Commuter Category Airplanes.

s. AC 23-17, Systems and Equipment Guide for Certification of Part 23 Airplanes.

t. AC 23-18, Installation of Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) Approved for Part 23 Airplanes.

u. AC 23-21 with Change 1, Airworthiness Compliance Checklists Used to Substantiate Major Alterations for Small Airplanes.

v. AC 23-22, Guidance for Approved Model List (AML) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) Approval for Part 23 Airplane Avionics Installations.

w. AC 23.1309-1E, Equipment, Systems, and Installations in Part 23 Airplanes.

x. AC 23.1311-1C, Installation of Electronic Displays in Part 23 Airplanes.

y. AC 23.1419-2D, Certification of Part 23 Aircraft for Flight in Icing Conditions.

z. AC 25-7C, Flight Test Guide for Certification of Transport Category Airplanes.

aa. AC 25-11A, Transport Category Airplane Electronic Display Systems.

bb. AC 25-15, Approval of Flight Management Systems in Transport Category Airplanes.

cc. AC 25-23, Airworthiness Criteria for the Installation Approval of a Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) for Part 25 Airplanes.

dd. AC 25-1309-1A, System Design and Analysis.

ee. AC 25.1329-1, Approval of Flight Guidance Systems.

ff. AC 25.1419-1A, Certification of Part 25 Aircraft for Flight in Icing Conditions.

gg. AC 25.1529-1A, Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of Structural Repairs on Transport Airplanes.

hh. AC 27-1, Certification of Normal Category Rotorcraft.

ii. AC 29-2C, Certification of Transport Category Rotorcraft.

jj. AC 43.9-1F, Instructions for Completion of FAA Form 337.

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Appendix 10 kk. AC 43.13-1B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices – Aircraft Inspection and Repair.

ll. AC 43.13-2B, Acceptable Methods, Techniques and Practices – Aircraft Alterations.

mm. AC 90-96A, Approval of U.S. Operators and Aircraft to Operate under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) in European Airspace Designated for Basic Area Navigation (BRNAV/RNP

5).

nn. AC 90-100, U.S. Terminal and Enroute Area Navigation (RNAV) Operations.

oo. AC 90-101A, Approval Guidance for RNP Procedures with AR.

pp. AC 90-105, Approval Guidance for RNP Operations and Barometric Vertical Navigation in the U.S. National Airspace System.

qq. AC 91-49 with Change 1, General Aviation Procedures for Flight in North Atlantic Minimum Navigation Performance Specification Airspace.

rr. AC 120-28D, Criteria for Approval of Category III Weather Minima for Takeoff, Landing, and Rollout.

ss. AC 120-29A, Criteria for Approval of Category I and Category II Weather Minima for Approach tt. AC 120-33, Operational Approval of Airborne Long-Range Navigation Systems for Flight within the North Atlantic Minimum Navigation Performance Specification Airspace.

A10-2. FAA Technical Standard Orders.

a. TSO-C66c, Airborne Distance Measuring Equipment (For Air Carrier Aircraft).

b. TSO-C115d, Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Equipment Using Multi- Sensor Inputs.

c. TSO-C129a, Airborne Supplemental Navigation Equipment Using the Global Positioning System (GPS).

Note: TSO-C129a has been cancelled but is referenced here for historical purposes because manufacturers may still produce the equipment according to an existing TSOA and the equipment is still eligible for installation.

d. TSO-C144a, Passive Airborne Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Antenna.

e. TSO-C145d, Airborne Navigation Sensors Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) Augmented by the Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS).

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Appendix 10

f. TSO-C146d, Stand-Alone Airborne Navigation Equipment Using the Global Positioning System (GPS) Augmented by the Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS).

g. TSO-C151c, Terrain Awareness and Warning System.

h. TSO-C154c, Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Equipment.

i. TSO-C161a, Ground Based Augmentation System Positioning and Navigation Equipment.

j. TSO-C162a, Ground Based Augmentation System Very High Frequency Data Broadcast Equipment.

k. TSO-C165a, Electronic Map Display Equipment for Graphical Depiction of Aircraft Position.

l. TSO-C166b, Extended-Squitter Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and Traffic Information.

m. TSO-C190, Active Airborne Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Antenna.

n. TSO-C194, Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System.

o. TSO-C196b, Airborne Supplemental Navigation Sensors for Global Positioning System Equipment Using Aircraft-Based Augmentation.

p. TSO-C204, Circuit Card Assembly Functional Sensors using Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) for Navigation and Non-Navigation Position/Velocity/Time Output.

q. TSO-C205, Circuit Card Assembly Functional Class Delta Equipment Using the Satellite-Based Augmentation System For Navigation Applications.

r. TSO-C206, Circuit Card Assembly Functional Sensors using Aircraft-Based Augmentation for Navigation and Non-Navigation Position/Velocity/Time Output.

A10-3. RTCA, Inc. Documents (RTCA/DO) documents.

a. RTCA/DO-160G, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.

b. RTCA/DO-178B, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification.

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Appendix 10

c. RTCA/DO-178C, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification.

d. RTCA/DO-187, Minimum Operational Performance Standards For Airborne Area Navigation Equipment Using Multi-Sensor Inputs.

e. RTCA/DO-189, Minimum Performance Standard for Airborne Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) Operating Within the Radio Frequency Range of 960-1215 Megahertz.

f. RTCA/DO-201A, Standards for Aeronautical Information.

g. RTCA/DO-228 with Change 1, Minimum Operational Performance Standards For Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Airborne Antenna Equipment.

h. RTCA/DO-229D, Change 1, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Global Positioning System/Wide Area Augmentation System(GPS/WAAS) Airborne Equipment.

i. RTCA/DO-235B, Assessment of Radio Frequency Interference Relevant to the GNSS L1 Frequency Band.

j. RTCA/DO-236C, Change 1, Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards:

Required Navigation Performance for Area Navigation.

k. RTCA/DO-246D, GNSS Based Precision Approach Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) Signal-in-Space Interface Control Document (ICD).

l. RTCA/DO-253C, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for GPS Local Area Augmentation System Airborne Equipment.

m. RTCA/DO-254, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware.

n. RTCA/DO-260B, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for 1090 MHz Extended Squitter Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B).

o. RTCA/DO-257A, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for the Depiction of Navigation Information on Electronic Maps.

p. RTCA/DO-282B, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).

q. RTCA/DO-283B, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Required Navigation Performance for Area Navigation.

r. RTCA/DO-301, Active Airborne Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Antenna.

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Appendix 10

s. RTCA/DO-316, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Global Positioning System/Aircraft-Based Augmentation System Airborne Equipment.

A10-4. Other Documents.

a. ARINC Specification 424-19, Navigation Systems Database, December 19, 2008.

Copies of this document may be requested from Aeronautical Radio Inc., 2551 Riva Road, Annapolis, Md. 21401-7435.

b. The FAA and Industry Guide to Product Certification, September 2004. Copies of this document may be obtained at:

http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/air_cert/design_approvals/media/CPI_guide_II.pdf.

c. GPS Standard Positioning Service Performance Standard, 4th edition, September, 2008. Copies of this document and general information related to GPS may be requested at http://pnt.gov/public/docs/2008/spsps2008.pdf.

d. Department of Defense IS-GPS-200D, Navstar GPS Space Segment/Navigation User Interface. Copies of this document may be requested from the GPS Joint Program Office, SSD/CZ, Los Angeles AFB, CA 90006. Alternatively, copies of this document may be requested at http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/gps/geninfo/default.htm.

e. FAA Specification Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), FAA-E-2892C, July 29, 2009. This document is available on-line at http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/techops/navservices/ gnss/library/documents/.

A10-5. How to Get Related Documents.

a. Order copies of 14 CFR parts from the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office (GPO), P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, MO 63197. For general information, telephone (202) 512-1800 or fax (202) 512-2250. You can also get copies online at the GPO electronic CFR Internet website at www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/.

b. Order copies of RTCA documents from RTCA Inc., 1828 L Street NW, Suite 805, Washington, D.C. 20036-4007. For general information, telephone (202) 833-9339 or fax (202) 833-9434. You can also order copies online at www.rtca.org.

c. You can find copies of ACs on the FAA website at http://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/advisory_circulars/, or www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl.

d. You can find a current list of technical standard orders on the FAA Regulatory and Guidance Library at www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl. You will also find the TSO Index of Articles on the same site.

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