Civil Certification of Avionics Modifications in Military Transport Category Aircraft

Recent changes in DoD procurement directives have encouraged the purchase of civilian products for use in certain military applications. One such application is the upgrade of avionics suites with the Global Positioning System (GPS) in military air transport aircraft to meet joint civil-military operational requirements. This paper reviews the Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) concept and the proper use of TSOs, ACs, and FARs in both the design and integration process. It further describes the importance and methodology of using the FAA and qualified FAA Designated Engineering Representative (DER) pilots throughout the design and certification process to evaluate component functionality, pilot-device interface, cockpit integration issues, plus compatibility with current and projected airspace operational requirements Emphasis is placed upon the creation and use of agreements and a detailed Certification Plan between the FAA, the applicant, and the user community which include both technical and human factors compliance methods.