RTCA special committees on navigation performance, wireless avionics intra-communication systems (WAIC) with 4,200-4400 MHz and terrain awareness warning systems (TAWS) are on the calendar with meetings this week. Both the TAWS and navigation performance meetings will take place at RTCA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
From Dec. 5 to 8, the navigation performance committee is set to hold its 19th meeting. The group was established in 2011 to develop standards for designers, manufacturers and installs of avionics equipment; airspace managers and service providers; and users who intend to use them for worldwide operations. Some committee goals are to revise the current standards for area navigation and the standards for the depiction of navigational information on electronic maps. Mitre Corp.’s Mike Cramer chairs the committee.
The WAIC committee, chaired by Honeywell’s Michael Franceschini, is set to meet on Dec. 6 to 8. Established in June of this year, the group is working to develop minimum operational performance standards (MOPS) for wireless equipment to allow a WAIC system to share the band with radio altimeters and other like systems. The committee operates in coordination with the European Org. for Civil Aviation Equipment (EURCAE) and plans to issue the standard as a joint document. The goal is provide the basis for the FAA and industry to accomplish procedural planning, investment analysis and architectural decision-making.
On Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., the TAWS committee is set to hold its 13th meeting since its establishment in March 2014. The group is working to develop a set of TAWS standards, considering its new capabilities. By developing new minimum operational performance standards that includes ground proximity warning system (GPWS) requirements, designers, equipment and design manufacturers, airlines, and aircraft operators, installers and aviation authorities could utilize it. It should also provide the foundation to revise technical standard orders (TSO). The committee is co-chaired by Honeywell’s Yasua Ishihara and ACSS’ Rick Ridenour.
