AC 120-55C Air Carrier TCAS - Code7700

2/23/11 AC 120-55C8. APPROVAL TO USE TCAS IN PART 121 OPERATIONS.a. General.(1) The use of TCAS in part 121 operations requires both FAA airworthiness certificationand operational approval. Airworthiness certification of TCAS refers to an FAA approval ofchanges in an aircraft’s type design by amendment to a TC or issuance of an STC. Operationalapproval pertains to changes to training and maintenance programs, manuals, operationalprocedures, minimum equipment lists (MEL), and other areas necessary for safe and effectiveTCAS use and the qualification of aircrews through the approved training programs. Anairworthiness TC/STC of a TCAS system alone does not constitute operational approval for useof TCAS under the provisions of parts 121 and 135.(2) The following are responsibilities of various FAA offices regarding TCAS.(a) FAA Aircraft Certification Offices (ACO) approve changes to a type design orissuance of STCs.(b) FAA Aircraft Evaluation Groups (AEG) formulate operational criteria for specificaircraft types related to training, checking, maintenance, Master Minimum Equipment Lists(MMEL), or other operational issues, as necessary.(c) FAA Flight Standards District Offices (FSDO) use information developed byAEG to review a particular operator’s programs. FSDOs approve a particular operator’s trainingand maintenance programs, operational procedures, MELs, etc., provided they are consistentwith criteria specified in the MMEL, Flight Standardization Board (FSB), Maintenance ReviewBoard (MRB) reports, and policy guidance from the Flight Standards Service (AFS), AirTransportation Division, AFS-200, and the Airworthiness Maintenance Division, AFS-300.b. Airworthiness Approval. Criteria for TCAS airworthiness approval (TC or STC) areaddressed by AC 20-131 and AC 20-151. TCAS installations are to be made in accordance witha type design change, an aircraft manufacturer’s FAA-approved Service Bulletin (SB), or by anSTC.c. Operational Approval.(1) Approval Criteria. Operational approvals are based on criteria specified and, ifapplicable, training, maintenance, MMEL, or other operationally related criteria formulated byAEGs. If the criteria for training or checking are other than as specified, the criteria are availablein FSB reports applicable to a particular aircraft type. The MMEL for each aircraft type specifiesprovisions for dispatch with inoperative equipment. Maintenance requirements are as identifiedin paragraph 11, except as otherwise described by an MRB report for a specific aircraft type, orin FAA-approved maintenance instructions identified in conjunction with an STC ormanufacturer’s SB.(2) Approval Methods. Accomplish TCAS operational approval through FAA approvalof pertinent training programs, checklists, operations manuals, training manuals, maintenanceprograms, MELs, or other pertinent documents or document revisions applicable to the particularPar 8 Page 3