Collins Aerospace seeks fix for GPS reception problem

The company issued a status update to its business-aircraft and airline customers on the problem identified in avionics systems using its GPS-4000S (P/N 822-2189-100) and GLU-2100 multi-mode receiver (P/N 822-2532-100).

“Our team has determined the cause and confirmed that a software calculation of UTC time for the week of June 9, 2019  to June 15, 2019 causes a reset condition, resulting in loss of the GPS function. This condition will no longer occur as the GPS constellation transitions into a new week on June 16, 2019 at 0:00 UTC,” it said.

The status update added that “further action will be required on many affected aircraft,” and that Collins Aerospace was working to develop a solution, and software updates.

The “ongoing” disruption has produced “nationwide operational effects,” and affects “several business aircraft types equipped with Collins Pro Line 4, Pro Line 21 and Pro Line Fusion avionics,” according to the National Business Aviation Association. Loss of GPS may be accompanied by disruption of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) information being sent to an aircraft’s transponder, NBAA said.

It noted that the FAA issued two “blanket exemptions for affected aircraft,” permitting continued flights using “traditional airways and/or navaids” if GPS is unavailable or flying at or below FL280 (excluding reduced vertical separation minimum, or RVSM, airspace) until the problem is resolved.

The status update sent by Patrick J. Cosgrove, Collins Aerospace aftermarket director for business and regional avionics, included two recommendations:

• Leave your units unpowered if you have not turned on your GPS or GLU since 00:00 UTC June 9, 2019. You may power on after 00:10 UTC on June 16, 2019.
• Contact your OEM and regulatory authority to obtain an MEL or MEL extension if you have powered up your GPS or GLU since 00:00 UTC June 9, 2019, and it is locked. Further action will be required on your aircraft to regain full functionality after June 16, 2019, 00:00 UTC. More guidance will be provided to you as soon as it is available.

 It suggested that customers contact their Collins Aerospace representative or local Collins customer support engineer with questions, or to visit the Collins Aerospace website for more information.