Concern regarding a missed Global Positioning System (GPS)
SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
FAA
Aviation Safety INFORMATION BULLETIN
SAIB: CE-10-38R1
SUBJ: Navigation Date: August 18, 2010
This is information only. Recommendations arent mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin advises you of an airworthiness concern regarding a
missed Global Positioning System (GPS) Non-Precision Approach (NPA), which may be caused by
the Honeywell GPS sensor when no backup navigation system is available on flights greater than 5
hours.
The sensors are used in the following products:
? Flight Management System: GNS-XES, GNS-XLS, GNS-XLS Enhanced, GNS-XLS
PRNAV, GNS-XLS Enhanced PRNAV, GNS-XL, GNS-XL PRNAV, GS-2100, CDU-XLS
? GPS Navigator: KLN-35A, KLN-89B, KLN-90B, KLN-94, KLN-900, KLX-135, KLX-
135A, KLX-189B
? TAWS: KMH-820, KMH-920, KGP-560, KGP-860, MK-XXI, MK V, MK VII, MK VI, MK
VIII, MK XXII
? GNSS: KGS-200
? IC-615: IC-615
? EPIC Radio: VIDL-G
At this time, the FAA has determined that this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that
would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) part 39.
This SAIB revises SAIB CE-10-38, dated July 15, 2010, by updating the models and part numbers.
Background
On March 30, 2010, Honeywell International, Inc. (Olathe, KS) provided the Wichita Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO) written notification of a possible safety issue (i.e., annunciated temporary
loss of GPS navigation) against the Mercury PX Global Navigation System Sensor (GNSS) within its
host VOR/ILS Data Link with GPS (VIDL-G) Receiver (Honeywell P/N: 7026207-802), which was
initially discovered during an extended flight on a Dassault F7X airplane.
An end customer flying a Dassault F7X airplane with a Honeywell VIDL-G Navigation Receiver
experienced an annunciated temporary loss of GPS navigation during an extended flight between
ESGG (Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport, Sweden) and KBFI (Boeing Field, Seattle WA). Flight deck
effects included steady reduction in the number of tracked GPS satellites resulting in related CAS
messages (NAV: FMS/GPS 1+2 MONITOR), degradation of the GPS operating mode to altitude
aiding, and ultimately temporary loss of navigation from the GPS. The end customer reported this
issue to the airframe manufacturer who, in turn, notified Honeywell.
The VIDL-G navigation receiver incorporates a Mercury PX GNSS and is certified to TSO-C129a
(Class B1/C1) Airborne Supplemental Navigation Equipment using the GPS. This annunciated
1
temporary loss of GPS navigation function had not been previously observed by Honeywell and was
not revealed by TSO-C129a testing.
Honeywell has isolated the issue to a latent defect in the software that is common to all of
Honeywells 8-channel GPS receivers. The affected models and their part numbers are listed below.
Model Part Number(s)
CDU-XLS 18420-0101-0xxx
GNS-XES 17450-0305-xxxx, 17450-0307-xxxx, 17450-0406-xxxx
GNS-XL 18355-0101-00xx, 18355-0101-01xx
GNS-XL PRNAV 18355-0102-xxxx
GNS-XLS 17960-0101-0xxx, 17960-0102-0xxx
GNS-XLS Enhanced 17960-0203-0xxx
GNS-XLS Enhanced
PRNAV 17960-0204-0xxx
GNS-XLS PRNAV 17960-0103-0xxx
GS-2100 066-01160-2502
IC 615 7017000-21xxx,-25xxx,-94xxx, -95xxx, -98xxx, -99xxx
KGP 560 066-01196-0x0x (RMD PN 965-1196-0xx, 965-1198-0xx)
KGP 860 066-01197-0205 (RMD PN 965-1199-00x)
KGS 200 066-01201-0101
KLN 35A 066-01151-0101
KLN 89B 066-01148-x1x1, 066-01148-x1x2
KLN 900 066-04034-0101,-0201, -0102, -0104, -0202, and -0204
KLN 90B 066-04031-xxx1, 066-04031-xxx2, 066-04031-xxx4
KLN 94 069-01034-01xx
KLX 135 070-01029-0000, 070-01029-0001
KLX 135A 069-01029-0703
KLX 189B 066-01161-7000
KMH 820 066-01175-210x, 066-01175-220x
KMH 920 066-01178-210x, 066-01178-220x
965-0976-020-XXX-XXX, 965-0976-060-XXX-XXX,
MK V 965-1681-002
MK VI 965-1186-XXX, 965-1190-XXX
965-1076-020-XXX-XXX, 965-1076-030-XXX-XXX,
MK VII 965-1076-060-XXX-XXX
MK VIII 965-1216-XXX, 965-1220-XXX
MK XXI 066-01227-0x01x (RMD PN 965-1227-00x)
MK XXII 965-1590-XXX, 965-1595-XXX
VIDL-G 7026207-XXX
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Recommendations
The FAA recommends that the pilot assure that he/she is prepared to revert to an alternative means of
navigation appropriate to the flight if the above situation occurs.
For Further Information Contact
Albert Ma, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, Mid-Continent Airport
1801 Airport Rd., Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4151; fax: (316) 946-4107; e-mail:
albert.ma@faa.gov.
3
FAA
Aviation Safety INFORMATION BULLETIN
SAIB: CE-10-38R1
SUBJ: Navigation Date: August 18, 2010
This is information only. Recommendations arent mandatory.
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin advises you of an airworthiness concern regarding a
missed Global Positioning System (GPS) Non-Precision Approach (NPA), which may be caused by
the Honeywell GPS sensor when no backup navigation system is available on flights greater than 5
hours.
The sensors are used in the following products:
? Flight Management System: GNS-XES, GNS-XLS, GNS-XLS Enhanced, GNS-XLS
PRNAV, GNS-XLS Enhanced PRNAV, GNS-XL, GNS-XL PRNAV, GS-2100, CDU-XLS
? GPS Navigator: KLN-35A, KLN-89B, KLN-90B, KLN-94, KLN-900, KLX-135, KLX-
135A, KLX-189B
? TAWS: KMH-820, KMH-920, KGP-560, KGP-860, MK-XXI, MK V, MK VII, MK VI, MK
VIII, MK XXII
? GNSS: KGS-200
? IC-615: IC-615
? EPIC Radio: VIDL-G
At this time, the FAA has determined that this airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that
would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations
(14 CFR) part 39.
This SAIB revises SAIB CE-10-38, dated July 15, 2010, by updating the models and part numbers.
Background
On March 30, 2010, Honeywell International, Inc. (Olathe, KS) provided the Wichita Aircraft
Certification Office (ACO) written notification of a possible safety issue (i.e., annunciated temporary
loss of GPS navigation) against the Mercury PX Global Navigation System Sensor (GNSS) within its
host VOR/ILS Data Link with GPS (VIDL-G) Receiver (Honeywell P/N: 7026207-802), which was
initially discovered during an extended flight on a Dassault F7X airplane.
An end customer flying a Dassault F7X airplane with a Honeywell VIDL-G Navigation Receiver
experienced an annunciated temporary loss of GPS navigation during an extended flight between
ESGG (Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport, Sweden) and KBFI (Boeing Field, Seattle WA). Flight deck
effects included steady reduction in the number of tracked GPS satellites resulting in related CAS
messages (NAV: FMS/GPS 1+2 MONITOR), degradation of the GPS operating mode to altitude
aiding, and ultimately temporary loss of navigation from the GPS. The end customer reported this
issue to the airframe manufacturer who, in turn, notified Honeywell.
The VIDL-G navigation receiver incorporates a Mercury PX GNSS and is certified to TSO-C129a
(Class B1/C1) Airborne Supplemental Navigation Equipment using the GPS. This annunciated
1
temporary loss of GPS navigation function had not been previously observed by Honeywell and was
not revealed by TSO-C129a testing.
Honeywell has isolated the issue to a latent defect in the software that is common to all of
Honeywells 8-channel GPS receivers. The affected models and their part numbers are listed below.
Model Part Number(s)
CDU-XLS 18420-0101-0xxx
GNS-XES 17450-0305-xxxx, 17450-0307-xxxx, 17450-0406-xxxx
GNS-XL 18355-0101-00xx, 18355-0101-01xx
GNS-XL PRNAV 18355-0102-xxxx
GNS-XLS 17960-0101-0xxx, 17960-0102-0xxx
GNS-XLS Enhanced 17960-0203-0xxx
GNS-XLS Enhanced
PRNAV 17960-0204-0xxx
GNS-XLS PRNAV 17960-0103-0xxx
GS-2100 066-01160-2502
IC 615 7017000-21xxx,-25xxx,-94xxx, -95xxx, -98xxx, -99xxx
KGP 560 066-01196-0x0x (RMD PN 965-1196-0xx, 965-1198-0xx)
KGP 860 066-01197-0205 (RMD PN 965-1199-00x)
KGS 200 066-01201-0101
KLN 35A 066-01151-0101
KLN 89B 066-01148-x1x1, 066-01148-x1x2
KLN 900 066-04034-0101,-0201, -0102, -0104, -0202, and -0204
KLN 90B 066-04031-xxx1, 066-04031-xxx2, 066-04031-xxx4
KLN 94 069-01034-01xx
KLX 135 070-01029-0000, 070-01029-0001
KLX 135A 069-01029-0703
KLX 189B 066-01161-7000
KMH 820 066-01175-210x, 066-01175-220x
KMH 920 066-01178-210x, 066-01178-220x
965-0976-020-XXX-XXX, 965-0976-060-XXX-XXX,
MK V 965-1681-002
MK VI 965-1186-XXX, 965-1190-XXX
965-1076-020-XXX-XXX, 965-1076-030-XXX-XXX,
MK VII 965-1076-060-XXX-XXX
MK VIII 965-1216-XXX, 965-1220-XXX
MK XXI 066-01227-0x01x (RMD PN 965-1227-00x)
MK XXII 965-1590-XXX, 965-1595-XXX
VIDL-G 7026207-XXX
2
Recommendations
The FAA recommends that the pilot assure that he/she is prepared to revert to an alternative means of
navigation appropriate to the flight if the above situation occurs.
For Further Information Contact
Albert Ma, Aerospace Engineer, FAA Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, Mid-Continent Airport
1801 Airport Rd., Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (316) 946-4151; fax: (316) 946-4107; e-mail:
albert.ma@faa.gov.
3