DAC International A-D Converter Approved for TCAS II Version 7.1 Installation

DAC International, a Greenwich AeroGroup company, announces that its latest A-D (analog-digital) converter, model GDC62, has been used as part of a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) supplemental type certificate.

The GDC62 accepts analog inputs from various radio altimeter models and converts the signal to ARINC 429 format that is compatible with currently available TCAS II digital processors. The GDC62 eliminates the need to replace analog radio altimeters when digital-only TCAS receivers are installed.

DAC International’s GDC62 was part of a supplemental type certificate issued by EASA and developed by TAG Aviation in Geneva, Switzerland. It is applicable to the Dassault Falcon MF900/900EX models seeking to comply with TCAS II Change 7.1 requirements.

As of Dec. 1, 2015, all aircraft already equipped with TCAS and weighing more than 5,700 kg are required to have the version 7.1 upgrade to the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS II) in order to operate in European airspace.

“The GDC62 is a lightweight, cost-effective solution for customers needing to meet the EASA requirements,” says vice president and general manager of DAC International, Cisco Hernandez. “Additionally, it provides an alternative option to purchasing new equipment to meet the EU 2015 as well as the ICAO 2017 mandate.”

Currently the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorizes but does not mandate use of TCAS II Version 7.1 compliant systems for operation in U.S. airspace. However, operators of U.S. registered aircraft used in international flight operations, need to upgrade to TCAS II Version 7.1 by Jan. 1, 2017.