Updates May Exclude Certain Navigation Data

The FAA has posted a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) to inform and remind owners and operators about changes contained in manufacturers’ navigation database updates. The cyclical updates may exclude certain navigation data including approach procedures, which makes this information unavailable for selection on the aircraft flight management system or navigation equipment.

While the airworthiness concern is not an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action, the FAA continues to monitor these issues with the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The FAA occasionally has received inquiries regarding missing data within the aircraft’s flight management system or navigation unit. In many scenarios, a pilot has attempted to select or load a particular approach, but is unable to do so and must determine an alternative in flight. This has often led to confusion and questions about how or why the data appears to be missing.

From time-to-time, avionics manufacturers may exclude procedures from the aviation database. The causes driving such removals vary, and while some data may be reinstated one cycle later, other data may remain excluded for longer periods of time. It is important to note that each avionics manufacturer processes the aeronautical data differently, and procedures excluded on one aircraft or system may not be excluded on another. Avionics manufacturers make data exclusion information available to their customers for consideration before use of affected data in flight operations. Exclusions can frequently be found on the avionics manufacturer’s internet website or may be published in another format as part of the new database cycle.

The FAA recommends that pilots become familiar with the most appropriate location where they can find information regarding exclusions from the database that can affect their flight operations, and exercise diligence in their preflight planning by staying informed about data exclusions pertaining to the type of avionics they utilize.

FMI: SAIB