Julian Moxon/PARIS
Eurocontrol is calling for the complusory implementation of airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS) in passenger aircraft to be delayed by up to 15 months, from the existing January 2000 deadline.
Introduction of the ACAS 2 standard has already been agreed by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC)and the European Joint Aviation Authorities, and is in the process of becoming law in several ECAC member states.
However, Eurocontrol and ECAC are now considering a 15-month transition period, as the deadline "-cannot be met" by airlines, says Eurocontrol ACAS programme manager John Law. The JAA and Eurocontrol are preparing a proposal for ECAC which will be put to transport ministers for approval in November, he says.
The law will require that all aircraft with more than 30 seats, or 150,000kg (68,100lb) maximum take-off weight (MTOW) are equipped with ACAS 2 from 2000, with a five year delay for aircraft with 19 seats or 5,700kg MTOW.
In the USA, passenger aircraft of more than 30 seats are already fitted with traffic alert and collision avoidance systems (TCAS), but to the earlier 6.04 Alpha standard. Europe rejected this, with Eurocontrol helping to develop the new TCASVersion 7 specification, although the large number of modifications required have meant that suppliers have only recently begun to deliver equipment.
Meanwhile, the US Federal Aviation Administration Version 7 Technical Standard Order, without which European certification of ACAS2 cannot begin, will not be available in its final form until at least next month.
About 45% of European aircraft are fitted with 6.04 Alpha TCAS, and there is "strong support" among airlines for compulsory fitting of ACAS, says Law. Aircraft not fitted with the system at the end of any transition period face being refused entry into dense airspace areas, or grounded for not meeting airworthiness requirements.
Source: Flight International
