Emma Kelly/LONDON
European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) countries are being forced to implement an "exceptional exemption procedure" for the continent's airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS II) programme. The move is due to operators failing to meet the deadline at the end of this month as a result of technical and supply problems with some ACAS equipment.
The first stage of Europe's ACAS II mandate requiring all civil fixed-wing turbine-engined aircraft with a maximum take-off weight exceeding 15,000kg (33,000lb), or more than 30 seats, to be equipped with the latest Version 7 traffic collision and avoidance system (TCAS) equipment, came into effect on 1 January 2000. Phase two - affecting aircraft exceeding 5,700kg or more than 19 seats - follows in January 2005.
Delays by the US Federal Aviation Administration releasing the technical standard order for Version 7 equipment and hold-ups in system availability, installation and certification, forced Eurocontrol to introduce a transition period to provide operators unable to equip their fleets by January 2000 with exemptions. That period ends on 31 March.
Now, however, due to technical, maintenance and interface issues affecting some systems, ECAC states have agreed to an exceptional exemption procedure. The problems are unforeseen "minor issues" which have delayed system certification and prevented some operators from meeting this month's deadline, says John Law, Eurocontrol's ACAS programme manager. So far, Eurocontrol has been informed of problems by 53 operators involving 190 aircraft, says Law.
To qualify for the exceptional exemption operators must prove that they have an order for Version 7 equipment and an installation date. The latter must not be beyond 30 September - after which there will be no "further respite".
There will be no extension to the transition period, stresses Law, and those unable to show they intend to meet the ACAS mandate will not qualify for an exemption. Non-compliance on economic grounds will not qualify. Eurocontrol has been approached by operators of about 124 older aircraft requesting exemptions, but "we are not authorised to give exemptions on that basis", says Law. Enforcement of the ACAS mandate is the responsibility of individual states, a number of which intend to aggressively increase ramp inspections to ensure compliance. Despite the problems, Law says operators, TCAS equipment suppliers, service centres and certification authorities have made "quite extraordinary efforts to achieve compliance".
The ACAS programme is being closely monitored by Eurocontrol's reduced vertical separation minima (RVSM) programme office, with any further slippage likely to jeopardise the introduction of capacity-enhancing RVSM in Europe next January.
Source: Flight International
