AC 20-156, ADVISORY CIRCULAR: AVIATION DATABUS ASSURANCE (04 AUG 2006)

AC 20-156, ADVISORY CIRCULAR: AVIATION DATABUS ASSURANCE (04 AUG 2006)., This advisory circular (AC) is for aircraft and aircraft engine manufacturers and designers. We provide a means to gain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval of your aviation databus by showing the databus design performs its intended function and satisfies the applicable airworthiness requirements when installed on an aircraft or aircraft engine. b. This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but is not the only means, to gain databus certification. However, if you use the means described, you must follow it in all important respects. Aircraft, engine and avionics manufacturers want to take advantage of commercially available databus technology that would reduce aircraft weight and development/manufacturing time, and increase airborne system performance. This desire motivates manufacturers to consider replacing point-to-point wiring and uni-directional databuses (for example, ARINC 429 databus) with faster and lighter bi-directional databuses. The guidance in this AC is intended for new type certificate or major changes of aircraft installations with highly-integrated and complex databus technology. It is not intended for systems with previously approved or legacy databus technology unless the databus is used in a significant different way. You can use alternate methods to ensure that the databus performs its intended function and meets airworthiness requirements when installed on an aircraft or aircraft engine. Coordinate your plans for alternate methods with us early in the certification project.