AC 25-7C

Historical

Advisory circular · Flight Test Guide For Certification Of Transport Category Airplanes

A newer version is currentThis is a historical version. AC 25-7D CHG 1 is the version in force, approved September 16, 2025.
Approved
October 16, 2012
Last reviewed
September 1, 2017
Cancels
AC25-7B Change 1 Incorporated
Cancelled by
AC25-7D
Family
AC 25-7 · 6 versions
Revision
C
14 CFR parts
25

Guidance, not mandatory unless a rule or AD requires it. DRS record last changed November 21, 2025.

Show pages 49–60

(hh) When properly tuned, fully modulating systems are characterized by much smaller variations in brake pressure around a fairly high average value. These systems can respond quickly to developing skids, and are capable of modulating brake pressure to reduce the frequency and depth of skidding. As a result, the average wheel speed remains much closer to the synchronous wheel speed. Figure 11-5 illustrates an example of the response characteristics of a fully modulating system on dry and wet runways.

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Figure 11-5. Anti-Skid System Response Characteristics Fully Modulating System Dry Runway Uneel 511. 0- 12 14 16 18

1. 0- 20 Anti-skid Valve Current Wet Runway 100 40 50 60 80 100 48

49 2 Demonstration of Anti-Skid System Operation When Using the Anti- Skid Efficiency Values Specified in § 25.109(c)(2).

(aa) If the applicant elects to use one of the anti-skid efficiency values specified in § 25.109(c)(2), a limited amount of flight testing must still be conducted, per § 25.109(c)(2), to demonstrate anti-skid system operation on a wet runway. This testing should be used to verify that the anti-skid system operates in a manner consistent with the type of antiskid system declared by the applicant, and that the anti-skid system has been properly tuned for operation on wet runways.

(bb) A minimum of one complete stop, or equivalent segmented stops, should be conducted on a smooth (i.e., not grooved or porous friction course) wet runway at an appropriate speed and energy to cover the critical operating mode of the anti-skid system. Since the objective of the test is to observe the operation (i.e., cycling) of the anti-skid system, this test will normally be conducted at an energy level well below the maximum brake energy condition.

(cc) The section of the runway used for braking should be well soaked

(i.e., not just damp), but not flooded. The runway test section should be wet enough to result in a number of cycles of anti-skid activity, but should not cause hydroplaning.

(dd) Before taxi and with cold tires, the tire pressure should be set to the highest value appropriate to the takeoff weight for which approval is being sought.

(ee) The tires and brakes should not be new, but need not be in the fully worn condition. They should be in a condition considered representative of typical in-service operations.

(ff) Sufficient data should be obtained to determine whether the system operates in a manner consistent with the type of anti-skid system declared by the applicant, provide evidence that full brake pressure is being applied upstream of the anti-skid valve during the flight test demonstration, determine whether the anti-skid valve is performing as intended, and show that the anti-skid system has been properly tuned for a wet runway. Typically, the following parameters should be plotted versus time:

(i) The speed of a representative number of wheels.

(ii) The hydraulic pressure at each brake (i.e., the hydraulic pressure downstream of the anti-skid valve or the electrical input to each anti-skid valve).

(iii) The hydraulic pressure at each brake metering valve (i.e., upstream of the anti-skid valve).

(gg) A qualitative assessment of anti-skid system response and airplane controllability should be made by the test pilot(s). In particular, pilot observations should confirm that:

(i) Anti-skid releases are neither excessively deep nor prolonged;

(ii) The landing gear is free of unusual dynamics; and

(iii) The airplane tracks essentially straight, even though runway seams, water puddles, and wetter patches may not be uniformly distributed in location or extent.

3 Determination of a Specific Wet Runway Anti-Skid System Efficiency.

(aa) If the applicant elects to derive the anti-skid system efficiency from flight test demonstrations, sufficient flight testing, with adequate instrumentation, should be conducted to ensure confidence in the value obtained. An anti-skid efficiency of 92 percent (i.e., a factor of 0.92) is considered to be the maximum efficiency on a wet runway normally achievable with fully modulating digital anti-skid systems.

(bb) A minimum of three complete stops, or equivalent segmented stops, should be conducted on a wet runway at appropriate speeds and energies to cover the critical operating modes of the anti-skid system. Alternatively, if the operation and efficiency of the anti-skid system on a wet runway can be predicted by laboratory simulation data and validated by flight test demonstrations, a lesser number of stops may be acceptable. In this case, as many complete stops, or equivalent segmented stops, as necessary to present six independent anti-skid efficiency calculations should be conducted on a wet runway at appropriate speeds and energies to cover the critical operating modes of the anti-skid system. An independent anti-skid efficiency calculation can be presented for each stop for each independently controlled wheel, or set of wheels.

(cc) Since the objective of the test is to determine the efficiency of the anti-skid system, these tests will normally be conducted at energies well below the maximum brake energy condition. A sufficient range of speeds should be covered to investigate any variation of the anti-skid efficiency with speed.

(dd) The testing should be conducted on a smooth (i.e., not grooved or porous friction course) runway. If the applicant chooses to determine accelerate-stop distances for grooved and porous friction course (PFC) surfaces under § 25.109(d)(2), testing should also be conducted on a grooved or porous friction course runway to determine the anti-skid efficiency value applicable to those surfaces. Other means for determining the anti-skid efficiency value for grooved and PFC surfaces may also be acceptable, such as using the efficiency value previously determined for smooth runways, if that value is shown to also be representative of or conservative for grooved and PFC runways.

(ee) The section of the runway used for braking should be well soaked

(i.e., not just damp), but not flooded. The runway test section should be wet enough to result in a number of cycles of anti-skid activity, but should not cause hydroplaning.

(ff) Before taxi and with cold tires, the tire pressure should be set to the highest value appropriate to the takeoff weight for which approval is being sought.

(gg) The tires and brakes should not be new, but need not be in the fully worn condition. They should be in a condition considered representative of typical in-service operations.

(hh) A qualitative assessment of anti-skid system response and airplane controllability should be made by the test pilot(s). In particular, pilot observations should confirm that:

(i) The landing gear is free of unusual dynamics; and

(ii) The airplane tracks essentially straight, even though runway seams, water puddles, and wetter patches may not be uniformly distributed in location or extent.

4 Two acceptable methods, referred to as the torque method and the wheel slip method, for determining the wet runway anti-skid efficiency value from wet runway stopping tests are described below. Other methods may also be acceptable if they can be shown to give equivalent results. The test instrumentation and data collection should be consistent with the method used.

(aa) Torque Method:

(i) Under the torque method, the anti-skid system efficiency is determined by comparing the energy absorbed by the brake during an actual wet runway stop to the energy that is determined by integrating, over the stopping distance, a curve defined by connecting the peaks of the instantaneous brake force curve (see Figure 11-6). The energy absorbed by the brake during the actual wet runway stop is determined by integrating the curve of instantaneous brake force over the stopping distance.

Figure 11-6. Instantaneous Brake Force and Peak Brake Force

Time Instantaneous Brake Force Peak Brake Force Time Intervals Brake Force

(ii) Using data obtained from the wet runway stopping tests of paragraph 11c(4)(b)(3), instantaneous brake force can be calculated from the following relationship:

where: F = brake force b T = brake torque b  = wheel acceleration I = wheel and tire moment of inertia and R = tire radius.tire

(iii) For brake installations where measuring brake torque directly is impractical, torque may be determined from other parameters (e.g., brake pressure) if a suitable correlation is available. Wheel acceleration is obtained from the first derivative of wheel speed.

Instrumentation recording rates and data analysis techniques for wheel speed and torque data should be well matched to the anti-skid response characteristics to avoid introducing noise and other artifacts of the instrumentation system into the data.

(iv) Since the derivative of wheel speed is used in calculating brake force, smoothing of the wheel speed data is usually necessary to give good results. The smoothing algorithm should be carefully designed as it can affect the resulting efficiency calculation. Filtering or smoothing of the brake torque or brake force data should not normally be done. If conditioning is applied, it should be done in a conservative manner (i.e., result in a lower efficiency value) and should not misrepresent actual airplane/system dynamics.

(v) Both the instantaneous brake force and the peak brake force should be integrated over the stopping distance. The anti-skid efficiency value for determining the wet runway accelerate-stop distance is the ratio of the instantaneous brake force integral to the peak brake force integral:

instantaneous brake forceds anti-skid efficiency = peak brake forceds where s = stopping distance

(vi) The stopping distance is defined as the distance traveled during the specific wet runway stopping demonstration, beginning when the full braking configuration is obtained and ending at the lowest speed at which anti-skid cycling occurs (i.e., the brakes are not torque-limited), except that this speed need not be less than 10 knots. Any variation in the anti-skid efficiency with speed should also be investigated, which can be accomplished by determining the efficiency over segments of the total stopping distance. If significant variations are noted, this variation should be reflected in the braking force used to determine the acceleratestop distances (either by using a variable efficiency or by using a conservative single value).

53 (bb) Wheel Slip Method:

(i) At brake application, the tire begins to slip with respect to the runway surface (i.e., the wheel speed slows down with respect to the airplane’s ground speed). As the amount of tire slip increases, the brake force also increases until an optimal slip is reached. If the amount of slip continues to increase past the optimal slip, the braking force will decrease.

(ii) Using the wheel slip method, the anti-skid efficiency is determined by comparing the actual wheel slip measured during a wet runway stop to the optimal slip. Since the wheel slip varies significantly during the stop, sufficient wheel and ground speed data should be obtained to determine the variation of both the actual wheel slip and the optimal wheel slip over the length of the stop. A sampling rate of at least 16 samples per second for both wheel speed and ground speed has been found to yield acceptable fidelity.

(iii) For each wheel and ground speed data point, the instantaneous anti-skid efficiency value should be determined from the relationship shown in Figure 11-7.

Figure 11-7. Anti-Skid Efficiency – Wheel Slip Relationship

W heel Slip R atio0 free rolling 1 loc k ed w heel

1.0 0 Optimal Slip

0.5 Anti-Sk id Effic ienc y

    ratio slip optimal theis OPS and speed Ground speed Wheel1=ratio slip wheelthe= WSRwhere OPS1 WSR1+10.5=Efficiency OPS>WSR

1.0=Efficiency OPS=WSR OPS WSR5.0OPSWSR5.1=Efficiency OPS<for WSR 3            

(iv) To determine the overall anti-skid efficiency value for use in calculating the wet runway accelerate-stop distance, the instantaneous anti-skid efficiencies should be integrated with respect to distance and divided by the total stopping distance:

instantaneous brake forceds anti-skid efficiency = s where s = stopping distance

(v) The stopping distance is defined as the distance traveled during the specific wet runway stopping demonstration, beginning when the full braking configuration is obtained and ending at the lowest speed at which anti-skid cycling occurs (i.e., the brakes are not torque-limited), except that this speed need not be less than 10 knots. Any variation in the anti-skid efficiency with speed should also be investigated, which can be accomplished by determining the efficiency over segments of the total stopping distance. If significant variations are noted, this variation should be reflected in the braking force used to determine the accelerate-stop distances (either by using a variable efficiency or by using a conservative single value).

(vi) The applicant should provide substantiation of the optimal wheel slip value(s) used to determine the anti-skid efficiency value. An acceptable method for determining the optimal slip value(s) is to compare time history plots of the brake force and wheel slip data obtained during the wet runway stopping tests. For brake installations where measuring brake force directly is impractical, brake force may be determined from other parameters (e.g., brake pressure) if a suitable correlation is available. For those skids where wheel slip continues to increase after a reduction in the brake force, the optimal slip is the slip value corresponding to the brake force peak. See Figure 11-8 for an example and note how both the actual wheel slip and the optimal wheel slip can vary during the stop.

Figure 11-8. Substantiation of The Optimal Slip Value 54 Brake Force Time

55 5 For dispatch with an inoperative anti-skid system (if approved), the wet runway accelerate-stop distances should be based on an efficiency no higher than that allowed by § 25.109(c)(2) for an on-off type of anti-skid system. The safety of this type of operation should be demonstrated by flight tests conducted in accordance with paragraph 11c(4)(b)(2).

(c) Distribution of the Normal Load Between Braked and Unbraked Wheels. In addition to taking into account the efficiency of the anti-skid system, § 25.109(b)(2)(ii) also requires adjusting the braking force for the effect of the distribution of the normal load between braked and unbraked wheels at the most adverse c.g. position approved for takeoff. The stopping force due to braking is equal to the braking coefficient multiplied by the normal load (i.e., weight) on each braked wheel. The portion of the airplane’s weight being supported by the unbraked wheels (e.g., unbraked nose wheels) does not contribute to the stopping force generated by the brakes. In accordance with § 25.21(a), this effect must be taken into account for the most adverse c.g. position approved for takeoff, considering any redistribution in loads that occur due to the dynamics of the stop. The most adverse c.g. position is the position that results in the least load on the braked wheels.

(d) Grooved and Porous Friction Course (PFC) Runways. Properly designed, constructed, and maintained grooved and PFC runways can offer significant improvements in wet runway braking capability. A conservative level of performance credit is provided by § 25.109(d) to reflect this performance improvement and to provide an incentive for installing and maintaining such surfaces.

1 In accordance with §§ 25.105(c) and 25.109(d), applicants may optionally determine the accelerate-stop distance applicable to wet grooved and PFC runways. These data would be included in the AFM in addition to the smooth runway accelerate-stop distance data.

The braking coefficient for determining the accelerate-stop distance on grooved and PFC runways is defined in § 25.109(d) as either 70 percent of the braking coefficient used to determine the dry runway accelerate-stop distances, or a curve based on ESDU 71026 data and derived in a manner consistent with that used for smooth runways. In either case, the brake torque limitations determined on a dry runway may not be exceeded.

2 Using a simple factor applied to the dry runway braking coefficient is acceptable for grooved and PFC runways because the braking coefficient’s variation with speed is much lower on these types of runways. On smooth wet runways, the braking coefficient varies significantly with speed, which makes it inappropriate to apply a simple factor to the dry runway braking coefficient.

3 For applicants who choose to determine the grooved/PFC wet runway accelerate-stop distances in a manner consistent with that used for smooth runways, § 25.109(d)(2) provides the maximum tire-to-ground braking coefficient applicable to grooved and PFC runways. This maximum tire-to-ground braking coefficient must be adjusted for the anti-skid system efficiency, either by using the value specified in § 25.109(c)(2) appropriate to the type of anti-skid system installed, or by using a specific efficiency established by the applicant. As anti-skid system performance depends on the characteristics of the runway surface, a system that has been tuned for optimum performance on a smooth surface may not

56 achieve the same level of efficiency on a grooved or porous friction course runway, and vice versa. Consequently, if the applicant elects to establish a specific efficiency for use with grooved or PFC surfaces, anti-skid efficiency testing should be conducted on a wet runway with such a surface, in addition to testing on a smooth runway. Means other than flight testing may be acceptable, such as using the efficiency previously determined for smooth wet runways, if that efficiency is shown to be representative of, or conservative for, grooved and PFC runways. Per § 25.109(b)(2)(ii), the resulting braking force for grooved/PFC wet runways must be adjusted for the effect of the distribution of the normal load between braked and unbraked wheels. This adjustment will be similar to that used for determining the braking force for smooth wet runways, except that the braking dynamics should be appropriate to the braking force achieved on grooved and PFC wet runways. Due to the increased braking force on grooved and PFC wet runways, an increased download on the nose wheel and corresponding reduction in the download on the main gear is expected.

4 In accordance with §§ 25.1533(a)(3) and 25.1583(h), grooved and PFC wet runway accelerate-stop distances may be established as operating limitations and be presented in the AFM, but approval to use these distances is limited to runways that have been designed, constructed, and maintained in a manner acceptable to the FAA Administrator. Airplane operators who wish to use the grooved or PFC runway accelerate-stop distances will need to determine that the design, construction, and maintenance aspects are acceptable for each runway for which such credit is sought. AC 150/5320-12C, “Measurement, Construction, and Maintenance of Skid-Resistant Airport Pavement Surfaces,” provides guidance relative to acceptable design, construction, and maintenance practices for grooved and PFC runway surfaces.

(e) Reverse thrust performance credit. In accordance with § 25.109(f), reverse thrust may not be used to determine the accelerate-stop distances for a dry runway. For wet runway accelerate-stop distances, however, § 25.109(f) allows credit for the stopping force provided by reverse thrust, if the requirements of § 25.109(e) are met. In addition, the procedures associated with the use of reverse thrust, which § 25.101(f) requires the applicant to provide, must meet the requirements of § 25.101(h). The following criteria provide acceptable means of demonstrating compliance with these requirements:

1 Procedures for using reverse thrust during a rejected takeoff should be developed and demonstrated. These procedures should include all of the pilot actions necessary to obtain the recommended level of reverse thrust, maintain directional control and safe engine operating characteristics, and return the reverser(s), as applicable, to either the idle or the stowed position. These procedures need not be the same as those recommended for use during a landing stop, but should not result in additional hazards (e.g., cause a flameout or any adverse engine operating characteristics), nor should they significantly increase flightcrew workload or training needs.

2 It should be demonstrated that using reverse thrust during a rejected takeoff complies with the engine operating characteristics requirements of § 25.939. The reverse thrust procedures may specify a speed at which the reverse thrust is to be reduced to idle in order to maintain safe engine operating characteristics.

3 The time sequence for the actions necessary to obtain the recommended level of reverse thrust should be demonstrated by flight test. The time sequence used to determine the accelerate-stop distances should reflect the most critical case relative to the time needed to deploy the thrust reversers. For example, on some airplanes the outboard thrust reversers are locked out if an outboard engine fails. This safety feature prevents the pilot from applying asymmetric reverse thrust on the outboard engines, but it may also delay the pilot’s selection of reverse thrust on the operable reversers. In addition, if the selection of reverse thrust is the fourth or subsequent pilot action to stop the airplane (e.g., after manual brake application, thrust/power reduction, and spoiler deployment), a one-second delay should be added to the demonstrated time to select reverse thrust (see Figure 11-1).

4 The response times of the affected airplane systems to pilot inputs should be taken into account. For example, delays in system operation, such as thrust reverser interlocks that prevent the pilot from applying reverse thrust until the reverser is deployed, should be taken into account. The effects of transient response characteristics, such as reverse thrust engine spin-up, should also be included.

5 To enable a pilot of average skill to consistently obtain the recommended level of reverse thrust under typical in-service conditions, a lever position that incorporates tactile feedback (e.g., a detent or stop) should be provided. If tactile feedback is not provided, a conservative level of reverse thrust should be assumed.

6 The applicant should demonstrate that exceptional skill is not required to maintain directional control on a wet runway with a ten-knot crosswind from the most adverse direction. For demonstration purposes, a wet runway may be simulated by using a nose wheel free to caster on a dry runway. Symmetric braking should be used during the demonstration, and both all-engines-operating and critical-engine-inoperative reverse thrust should be considered.

The brakes and thrust reversers may not be modulated to maintain directional control. The reverse thrust procedures may specify a speed at which the reverse thrust is reduced to idle in order to maintain directional controllability.

7 Compliance with the requirements of §§ 25.901(b)(2), 25.901(c),

25.1309(b), and 25.1309(c) will be accepted as providing compliance with the “safe and reliable” requirements of §§ 25.101(h)(2) and 25.109(e)(1).

8 The number of thrust reversers used to determine the wet runway accelerate-stop distance data provided in the AFM should reflect the number of engines assumed to be operating during the rejected takeoff, along with any applicable system design features.

The all-engines-operating accelerate-stop distances should be based on all thrust reversers operating. The one-engine-inoperative accelerate-stop distances should be based on failure of the critical engine. For example, if the outboard thrust reversers are locked out when an outboard engine fails, the one-engine-inoperative accelerate stop distances can only include reverse thrust from the inboard engine thrust reversers.

58 9 For the engine failure case, it should be assumed that the thrust reverser does not deploy (i.e., no reverse thrust or drag credit for deployed thrust reverser buckets on the failed engine).

10 For approval of dispatch with one or more inoperative thrust reverser(s), the associated performance information should be provided either in the AFM or the master minimum equipment list (MMEL).

11 The effective stopping force provided by reverse thrust in each, or at the option of the applicant, the most critical takeoff configuration, should be demonstrated by flight test. (One method of determining the reverse thrust stopping force would be to compare unbraked runs with and without the use of thrust reversers.) Regardless of the method used to demonstrate the effective stopping force provided by reverse thrust, flight test demonstrations should be conducted using all of the stopping means on which the AFM wet runway acceleratestop distances are based in order to substantiate the accelerate-stop distances and ensure that no adverse combination effects are overlooked. These demonstrations may be conducted on a dry runway.

12 For turbopropeller powered airplanes, the criteria of paragraphs 1 through 11 above remain generally applicable. Additionally, the propeller of the inoperative engine should be in the position it would normally assume when an engine fails and the power lever is closed. Reverse thrust may be selected on the remaining engine(s). Unless this selection is achieved by a single action to retard the power lever(s) from the takeoff setting without encountering a stop or lockout, it should be regarded as an additional pilot action for the purposes of assessing delay times. If this action is the fourth or subsequent pilot action to stop the airplane, a one-second delay should be added to the demonstrated time to select reverse thrust.

12. Takeoff Path - § 25.111.

a. Section 25.111(a).

(1) Explanation. The takeoff path requirements of § 25.111, and the reductions to that path required by § 25.115, are established so that performance data can be provided in the AFM for use in assessing vertical clearance of obstacles under the takeoff flight path.

(2) Procedures. The height references in § 25.111 should be interpreted as geometric heights. Section 25.111(a) requires the actual takeoff path (from which the net takeoff flight path is derived) to extend to the higher of where the airplane is 1,500 ft. above the takeoff surface or to the altitude at which the transition to en route configuration is complete and the final takeoff speed (VFTO) is reached.

b. Section 25.111(a)(1) - Takeoff Path Power/Thrust Conditions.

(1) Explanation. In accordance with § 25.111(d), the takeoff path must be established either from continuous demonstrated takeoffs or by synthesis from segments. If determined from