FAA AC 20-140C PDF

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS ADVISORY CIRCULAR (AC)?

This AC provides guidance material for applicants seeking an airworthiness approval for aircraft with an installed data link system intended to support air traffic services (ATS) data communication. It identifies specific configurations of aircraft data link systems for applicants seeking approval for type certificates (TC) and supplemental type certificates (STC) in order to facilitate operational approvals. Appendix A of this AC provides a list of related documents. Appendix B of this AC contains a list of applicable acronyms.

This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, for you to gain airworthiness approval for aircraft data link system equipment. However, if you use the means described in this AC, you must follow it in all important respects.

The term “must” is used in this AC to indicate a mandatory requirement driven by regulation that is to be followed when using the guidance in this AC. The term “should” is used in this AC to indicate a recommendation and not a requirement when using the guidance in this AC. Since this AC represents an accepted means of compliance, an applicant seeking an alternative to any requirement or recommendation within this AC will need to be discussed with the Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) in order to achieve a common performance level with the AC.