Description / Abstract: FOREWORD

This document was prepared by Special Committee 228 (SC-228) and approved by the RTCA Program Management Committee (PMC) on September 21, 2017.

RTCA, Incorporated is a not-for-profit corporation formed to advance the art and science of aviation and aviation electronic systems for the benefit of the public. The organization functions as a Federal Advisory Committee and develops consensus-based recommendations on contemporary aviation issues. RTCA’s objectives include, but are not limited to:

• Coalescing aviation system user and provider technical requirements in a manner that helps government and industry meet their mutual objectives and responsibilities;

• Analyzing and recommending solutions to the system technical issues that aviation faces as it continues to pursue increased safety, system capacity and efficiency;

• Developing consensus on the application of pertinent technology to fulfill user and provider requirements, including development of Minimum Operational Performance Standards (MOPS) for electronic systems and equipment that support aviation; and

• Assisting in developing the appropriate technical material upon which positions for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other appropriate international organizations can be based.

The recommendations of RTCA are often used as the basis for government and private sector decisions as well as the foundation for many Federal Aviation Administration Technical Standard Orders (TSO).

Since RTCA is not an official agency of the United States Government, its recommendations may not be regarded as statements of official government policy unless so enunciated by the United States Government organization or agency having statutory jurisdiction over any matters to which the recommendations relate.