Certification of an Airborne Loran-C Navigation System

Abstract

On October 9, 1981, a Supplemental Type Certificate for airborne, en route, IFR use of Loran-C was awarded to the State of Vermont following completion of a flight test program by the Transportation Systems Center, Research and Special Programs Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The certification of a Beechcraft E50 aircraft equipped with a Loran-C navigator, is the first ever granted for use of Loran-C in the National Airspace System and culminates a four-year federal-state evaluation program. This paper describes the systematic approach leading to the award. It includes a thorough examination of the certification process, the accuracy requirements described in the Federal Aviation Administration's Advisory Circular 90–45A “Approval of Area Navigation Systems for Use in the U.S. National Aerospace System,” the organization of the program, the preparation of a flight test plan, the collection of the data base, the analysis of the data, and resulting conclusions.