ETSO-C157c

Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) Equipment

1 Applicability

This ETSO provides the requirements that Aircraft Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) Data Link Systems and Equipment that are designed and manufactured on or after the date of this ETSO must meet in order to be identified with the applicable ETSO marking.

2 Procedures

2.1 General

The applicable procedures are detailed in CS-ETSO Subpart A.

2.2 Specific

None.

3 Technical Conditions

3.1 Basic

3.1.1 Minimum Performance Standard

These standards apply to equipment intended to display weather and other non-air-traffic-control-related flight advisory information to pilots in a manner that will enhance their awareness of the conditions of flight.

The applicable standards are those provided in RTCA document DO-267A, ‘Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS) for Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) Data Link’, Rev. A dated 29 April 2004 or DO-358A, ‘Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) with Universal Access Transceiver (UAT)’, dated 27 June 2019 defined in the following Table 1.

The applicant shall demonstrate the required functional performance under the test conditions as specified in Table 1.

Table 1 — Equipment classes for FIS-B

Note: This ETSO is intended for equipment used in the US National Airspace System. UAT is not intended to be operated in European airspace.

3.1.2 Environmental Standard

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.1.

3.1.3 Software

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.2.

3.1.4 Airborne Electronic Hardware

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.3.

3.2 Specific

3.2.1 Failure Condition Classification

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 2.4.

Failure of the function defined in paragraph 3.1.1 resulting in misleading weather or flight advisory information is a minor failure condition.

Loss of the function defined in paragraph 3.1.1 is a minor failure condition.

3.2.2 Manual

The applicant shall produce a manual that includes operating instructions and equipment limitations. This manual must state the following:

‘FIS-B information may be used for pilot planning decisions focused on updating the pilot’s awareness of the dynamic flight environment, including avoiding areas of inclement weather that are beyond visual range and pilot near-term decisions where poor visibility precludes visual acquisition of inclement weather. FIS-B weather and NAS status information may be used as follows:

(a)To promote pilot awareness of the own ship location with respect to the reported weather, including hazardous meteorological conditions; NAS status indicators to enhance pilot planning decisions; and pilot near-term decision-making.

(b)To cue the pilot to communicate with Air Traffic Control, a Flight Service Station specialist, operator dispatch, or airline operations control centre for general and mission-critical meteorological information, NAS status conditions, or both.

FIS-B information, including weather information, NOTAMs, and TFR areas, are intended for the sole purpose of assisting in long- and near-term planning and decision making. The system lacks sufficient resolution and the updating capability necessary for aerial manoeuvring associated with immediate decisions. In particular, in extreme scenarios, the oldest weather radar data on the display can be up to 15 to 20 minutes older than the display’s age indication for that weather radar data. Therefore, do not attempt to use FIS-B weather information to manoeuvre the aircraft at minimum safe distances from hazardous weather.

FIS-B information may be used to support the preflight preparation required by the applicable regulations. However, depending on the intended operation, FIS-B may not provide all the available aeronautical or meteorological information concerning the flight. Regulatory compliant preflight preparation may be accomplished using automated resources or by contacting a Flight Service Station.’

In addition to the above operating instructions and equipment limitations, the following paragraph should be added for FIS-B Class 1 equipment only.

(c)‘FIS-B uplink is an FAA-approved source for METAR, TAF, WINDS, PIREPs, NEXRAD, AIRMET, SIGMET, and TFR information subject to the range limits for the broadcast of these products. FIS-B uplink is not an FAA-approved source for NOTAMs.’

In addition to the above operating instructions and equipment limitations, the following paragraph should be added for FIS-B Class 2 equipment only.

(d)‘This FIS-B Class 2 equipment is not interoperable with the FAA SBS provider.’

The manual shall describe in detail the functionality of each FIS-B Equipment Class (as defined in Table 2-1 of RTCA/DO-358A) implemented within the FIS-B equipment.

The manual shall describe any deviation in detail.

4 Marking

4.1 General

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 1.2.

4.2 Specific

(a)The markings shall also identify the Equipment Class as defined in Table 1 of this ETSO, and for Equipment Class 1 (as defined in Table 1 of this ETSO) shall identify all the FIS-B Equipment Classes implemented within the FIS-B equipment as listed in RTCA/DO-358A, Table 2-1, as follows:

(1)Class 1 equipment (as defined in Table 1 of this ETSO) that incorporates all the FIS B products listed in RTCA/DO-358A, Table 2-1, shall be marked as ‘Equipment Class 1A’.

(2)Class 1 equipment (as defined in Table 1 of this ETSO) that incorporates all the FIS B products listed in RTCA/DO-358A, Table 2-1, except for AIRMET, shall be marked as ‘Equipment Class 1B’.

(3)Class 1 equipment (as defined in Table 1 of this ETSO) other than Equipment Class 1A and 1B as ‘Equipment Class 1 [suffix the Equipment Class Letters for all supported FIS-B products according to RTCA DO-358A, Table 2-1]’.

For example, mark equipment that incorporates only METAR (C), TAF (D), PIREP (E), and Winds (F), as ‘Equipment Class 1CDEF’.

(b)Class 2 equipment (as defined in Table 1 of this ETSO) shall be marked as ‘Equipment Class 2’.

5 Availability of Referenced Documents

See CS-ETSO, Subpart A, paragraph 3.

[Amdt ETSO/7]

[Amdt ETSO/12]

[Amdt ETSO/17]