A-00-045
NTSB Safety Recommendation — Aviation
Recommendation text
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE FAA: ADVISE ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT EQUIPPED WITH AUTOPILOT SYSTEMS THAT USE TIME-BASED DESENSITIZATION SCHEDULES TO INFORM THEIR PILOTS, MAINTENANCE, AND ENGINEERING PERSONNEL OF THE DANGERS OF CONDUCTING COUPLED INSTRUMENT LANDING APPROACHES AT AIRSPEEDS THAT ARE NOT CONSISTENT WITH THE AUTOPILOT DESENSITIZATION SCHEDULE, AND NOTIFY THE OPERATORS THAT THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN ASKED TO DEVELOP OPERATING LIMITATIONS FOR THE USE OF THESE AUTOPILOTS ON COUPLED APPROACHES THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE APPROACHES ARE CONDUCTED IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGN OF THE AUTOPILOT.
In plain language (FlightFinder summary)
The FAA is asked to alert all operators of aircraft with autopilot systems that use time-based desensitization schedules to inform their pilots, maintenance, and engineering personnel about the dangers of conducting coupled instrument landing approaches at airspeeds not matching the autopilot's desensitization schedule. The FAA must also notify operators that it has been requested to develop operating limitations for using these autopilots on coupled approaches, ensuring approaches are conducted in a manner consistent with the autopilot's design.
This plain-language summary is written by FlightFinder to explain the recommendation above. It is not the official wording — the verbatim NTSB text is quoted above.
Details
| Status | Closed - Acceptable Action |
|---|---|
| Mode | Aviation |
| Closed | Nov 26, 2001 |
| NTSB number | DCA98MA023 |
| Addressees | FAA |
External links
NTSB safety recommendations are advisory; addressees are not legally required to adopt them. Source: NTSB CAROL (public domain).