TSO-C212
Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Effective
Aircraft Certification Service
Date: 09/22/17
Washington, D.C.
Technical Standard Order
Subject: Air-to-Air Radar (ATAR) for Traffic Surveillance
1. PURPOSE. This technical standard order (TSO) is for manufacturers applying for a TSO
authorization (TSOA) or letter of design approval (LODA). In it, we (the Federal Aviation
Administration, (FAA)) tell you what minimum performance standards (MPS) your ATAR
equipment must first meet for approval and identification with the applicable TSO marking.
2. APPLICABILITY. This TSO affects new applications submitted after its effective date.
3. REQUIREMENTS. New models of ATAR equipment identified and manufactured on or
after the effective date of this TSO must meet the MPS qualification and documentation
requirements in Section 2 of RTCA Document No. RTCA/DO-366, Minimum Operational
Performance Standards for Air-to-Air Radar for Traffic Surveillance, dated May 31, 2017.
a. Functionality. This TSO’s standards apply to equipment intended to be used in aircraft
(unmanned and manned) operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to detect and generate
tracks for all airborne traffic within the radar detection volume. The on-board radar
complements other on-board airborne surveillance sensors by providing detection of non-
cooperative traffic (aircraft without surveillance transponders or Automatic Dependent
Surveillance-Broadcast [ADS-B] Out capability, or not operating such equipment due to
malfunction or deliberate action). The ATAR equipment can support traffic avoidance systems
such as Detect and Avoid (DAA) Systems.
Note: TSO-C211 provides minimum performance standards for DAA Systems.
b. Failure Condition Classifications.
(1) Loss of the function defined in paragraph 3.a is a minor failure condition.
(2) Failure of the function defined in paragraph 3.a resulting in an un-annunciated loss of
traffic detection and tracking capability or erroneous data output is a major failure condition.
TSO-C212 09/22/17
(3) Develop the system to, at least, the design assurance level applicable to these failure
condition classifications.
c. Functional Qualification. Demonstrate the required functional performance under the
test conditions specified in RTCA/DO-366, Section 2.4.
d. Environmental Qualification. Demonstrate the required performance under the test
conditions specified in RTCA/DO-366, Section 2.3 using standard environmental conditions and
test procedures appropriate for airborne equipment. You may use a different standard
environmental condition and test procedure than those specified in RTCA/DO-366, section 2.3,
which includes use of RTCA/DO-160G for airborne equipment.
Note: The use of RTCA/DO-160D (with Changes 1 and 2 only, without
Change 3 incorporated) or earlier versions is generally not considered
appropriate and will require substantiation via the deviation process as
discussed in paragraph 3.g of this TSO.
e. Software Qualification. If the article includes software, develop the software
according to RTCA, Inc. document RTCA/DO-178C, Software Considerations in Airborne
Systems and Equipment Certification, dated December 13, 2011, including referenced
supplements as applicable, to at least the software level consistent with the failure condition
classification defined in paragraph 3.b of this TSO. You may also develop the software
according to RTCA, Inc. document RTCA/DO-178B, dated December 1, 1992 if you follow the
guidance in AC 20-115C, Airborne Software Assurance, dated July 19, 2013 or latest revision.
f. Electronic Hardware Qualification. If the article includes complex custom airborne
electronic hardware, develop the component according to RTCA, Inc. Document RTCA/DO-
254, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware, dated April 19, 2000, to at
least the design assurance level consistent with the failure condition classification defined in
paragraph 3.b of this TSO. For custom airborne electronic hardware determined to be simple,
RTCA/DO-254, paragraph 1.6 applies.
g. Deviations. We have provisions for using alternate or equivalent means of compliance
to the criteria in the MPS of this TSO. If you invoke these provisions, you must show that your
equipment maintains an equivalent level of safety. Apply for a deviation under the provision
of 14 CFR § 21.618.
4. MARKING.
a. Mark at least one major component permanently and legibly with all the information in
14 CFR § 45.15(b).
b. If the article includes software and/or airborne electronic hardware, then the article part
numbering scheme must identify the software and airborne electronic hardware configuration.
The part numbering scheme can use separate, unique part numbers for software, hardware, and
airborne electronic hardware.
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c. You may use electronic part marking to identify software or airborne electronic
hardware components by embedding the identification within the hardware component itself
(using software) rather than marking it on the equipment nameplate. If electronic marking is
used, it must be readily accessible without the use of special tools or equipment.
5. APPLICATION DATA REQUIREMENTS. You must give the FAA aircraft
certification office (ACO) manager responsible for your facility a statement of conformance, as
specified in 14 CFR § 21.603(a)(1) and one copy each of the following technical data to support
your design and production approval. LODA applicants must submit the same data (excluding
paragraph 5.g) through their civil aviation authority.
a. A Manual(s) containing the following:
(1) Operating instructions and each article limitations sufficient to describe the
equipment’s operational capability.
(2) Describe in detail any deviations.
(3) Installation procedures and limitations sufficient to ensure that the ATAR
equipment, when installed according to the installation or operational procedures, still meets this
TSO’s requirements. Limitations must identify any unique aspects of the installation. The
limitations must include a note with the following statement:
“This article meets the minimum requirements of TSO-C212.
Installation of this article requires separate approval.”
(4) For each unique configuration of software and airborne electronic hardware,
reference the following:
(a) Software part number including revision and design assurance level;
(b) Airborne electronic hardware part number including revision and design
assurance level; and,
(c) Functional description.
(5) A summary of the test conditions used for environmental qualifications for each
component of the article. For example, a form as described in RTCA/DO-160G, Environmental
Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment, Appendix A.
(6) Schematic drawings, wiring diagrams, and any other documentation necessary for
installation of the ATAR equipment.
(7) List of replaceable components, by part number, that makes up the ATAR
equipment. Include vendor part number cross-references, when applicable.
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b. Instructions covering periodic maintenance, calibration, and repair, to ensure that the
ATAR equipment continues to meet the TSO approved design. Include recommended inspection
intervals and service life, as appropriate.
c. If the article includes software: a plan for software aspects of certification (PSAC),
software configuration index, and software accomplishment summary.
d. If the article includes simple or complex custom airborne electronic hardware: a plan
for hardware aspects of certification (PHAC), hardware verification plan, top-level drawing, and
hardware accomplishment summary (or similar document, as applicable).
e. A drawing depicting how the article will be marked with the information required by
paragraph 4 of this TSO.
f. Identify functionality contained in the article not evaluated under paragraph 3 of this
TSO (that is, non-TSO functions). Non-TSO functions are accepted in parallel with the TSO
authorization. For those non-TSO functions to be accepted, you must declare these functions and
include the following information with your TSO application:
(1) Description of the non-TSO function(s), such as performance specifications, failure
condition classifications, software, hardware, and environmental qualification levels. Include a
statement confirming that the non-TSO function(s) do not interfere with the article’s compliance
with the requirements of paragraph 3.
(2) Installation procedures and limitations sufficient to ensure that the non-TSO
function(s) meets the declared functions and performance specification(s) described in paragraph
5.f.(1).
(3) Instructions for continued performance applicable to the non-TSO function(s)
described in paragraph 5.f.(1).
(4) Interface requirements and applicable installation test procedures to ensure
compliance with the performance data defined in paragraph 5.f.(1).
(5) Test plans and analysis, as appropriate, to verify that performance of the hosting
TSO article is not affected by the non-TSO function(s).
(6) Test plans and analysis, as appropriate, to verify the function and performance of
the non-TSO function(s) as described in paragraph 5.f.(1).
g. The quality manual required by 14 CFR § 21.608, including functional test
specifications. The quality system must ensure that you will detect any change to the approved
design that could adversely affect compliance with the TSO MPS and reject the article
accordingly. Applicants who currently hold TSOAs must submit revisions to the existing quality
manual as necessary (not required for LODA applicants).
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h. A description of your organization as required by 14 CFR 21.605.
i. Material and process specifications list.
j. List of all drawings and processes (including revision level) that define the article’s
design.
k. Manufacturer’s TSO qualification report showing results of testing accomplished
according to paragraph 3.c of this TSO.
6. MANUFACTURER DATA REQUIREMENTS. Besides the data given directly to the
responsible ACO, have the following technical data available for review by the responsible
ACO:
a. Functional qualification specifications for qualifying each production article to ensure
compliance with this TSO and compatibility with each article.
b. Article calibration procedures.
c. Schematic drawings.
d. Wiring diagrams.
e. Material and process specifications.
f. The results of the environmental qualification tests conducted according to paragraph
3.d of this TSO.
g. If the article includes software, the appropriate documentation defined in
RTCA/DO-178B or RTCA/DO-178C specified in paragraph 3.e of this TSO, including all data
supporting the applicable objectives in Annex A, Process Objectives and Outputs by Software
Level.
h. If the article includes complex custom airborne electronic hardware, the appropriate
hardware life cycle data in combination with design assurance level, as defined in
RTCA/DO-254, Appendix A, Table A-1. For simple custom airborne electronic hardware, the
following data: test cases or procedures, test results, test coverage analysis, tool assessment and
qualification data, and configuration management records, including problem reports.
i. If the article contains non-TSO function(s), you must also make available items 6.a
through 6.h as they pertain to the non-TSO function(s).
7. FURNISHED DATA REQUIREMENTS.
a. If furnishing one or more articles manufactured under this TSO to one entity (such as an
operator or repair station), provide one copy or on-line access to the data in paragraphs 5.a and
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5.b of this TSO. Add any other data needed for the proper installation, certification, use, or for
continued compliance with the TSO, of the ATAR equipment.
b. If the article contains declared non-TSO function(s), include one copy of the data in
paragraphs 5.f.(1) through 5.f.(4).
c. If the article contains software, provide one copy of the Open Problem Report (OPR)
summary to type certification, supplemental type certification, or amended type certification
design approval holders or applicants seeking installation approval of the TSO.
8. HOW TO GET REFERENCED DOCUMENTS.
a. Order RTCA documents from RTCA Inc., 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 910,
Washington, D.C. 20036. Telephone (202) 833-9339, fax (202) 833-9434. You can also order
copies online at www.rtca.org .
b. Order copies of 14 CFR parts 21, 91, and 45 from the Superintendent of Documents,
Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, MO 63197. Telephone (202) 512-
1800, fax (202) 512-2104. You can also order copies online at http://bookstore.gpo.gov/.
c. You can find a current list of technical standard orders and advisory circulars on the
FAA Internet website Regulatory and Guidance Library at http://rgl.faa.gov/. You will also find
the TSO Index of Articles at the same site.
Louis R. Volchansky
Manager, Systems and Equipment
Standards Branch, AIR-6B0
Policy & Innovation Division
