AD 2020-24-04 Requires Revising The Existing Airplane Flight Manual (AFM)

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10 airplanes.

This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate procedures for conducting an approach with a localizer-based navigation aid, monitoring localizer raw data, calling out any significant deviations, and performing an immediate go around if the airplane has not intercepted the final approach course as shown by the localizer deviation. This AD was prompted by reports that the autopilot flight director system (AFDS) failed to transition to the instrument landing system localizer (LOC) beam after the consistent localizer capture function in the flight control modules initiated a transition to capture LOC during approach. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. This AD is effective December 18, 2020.

Supplementary Information: The FAA has received reports indicating that the AFDS failed to transition to the instrument landing system LOC beam after the consistent localizer capture function in the flight control modules initiated a transition to capture LOC during approach. This condition, if not addressed, could result in localizer overshoot leading to glideslope descent on the wrong heading. Combined with a lack of flight deck effects for a consistent localizer capture mode failure, this condition could result in a controlled flight into terrain.

FMI: www.regulations.gov