G/TBT/N/USA/1256  
 
16 January 201 7 
(17-0263) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original : English  
 
  NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member : UNITED STATES OF AME RICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved  (Article 3.2 and 7.2) : 
2. Agency responsible : Federal Aviation Admi nistration (FAA) [1276]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification  shall be indicated if different from above : 
Please sub mit comments to : USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point  
Email : usatbtep@nist.gov   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], other : X 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable) : Enhanced flight vision 
systems . On-board equipment and instruments (ICS : 49.090)  
5. Title, number of pages  and language(s)  of the notified document : Revisions to 
Operational Requirements for the Use of Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) and to Pilot 
Compartment View Requirements for Vision Systems (52 pages, in English)   
6. Description of content : Prior to this final rule, persons could only use an Enhanced Flight 
Vision S ystem (EFVS) in lieu of natural vision to descend below the decision altitude, 
decision height, or minimum descent altitude (DA/DH or MDA) down to 100 feet above the 
touchdown zone elevation (TDZE) using certain straight -in landing instrument approach 
procedures (IAPs). This final rule permits operators to use an EFVS in lieu of natural vision 
to continue descending from 100 feet above the TDZE to the runway and to land on certain 
straight -in IAPs under instrument flight rules (IFR). This final rule also re vises and 
relocates the regulations that permit operators to use an EFVS in lieu of natural vision to 
descend to 100 feet above the TDZE using certain straight -in IAPs. Additionally, this final 
rule addresses provisions that permit operators who conduct EF VS operations under 
parts 121, 125, or 135 to use EFVS -equipped aircraft to dispatch, release, or takeoff under 
IFR, and revises the regulations for those operators to initiate and continue an approach, 
when the destination airport weather is below authori zed visibility minimums for the 
runway of intended landing. This final rule establishes pilot training and recent flight 
experience requirements for operators who use EFVS in lieu of natural vision to descend 
below the DA/DH or MDA. EFVS -equipped aircraft conducting operations to touchdown and 
rollout are required to meet additional airworthiness requirements. This final rule also 
revises pilot compartment view certification requirements for vision systems using a 
transparent display surface located in the pilot's outside field of view. The final rule takes 
advantage of advanced vision capabilities, thereby achieving the Next Generation Air 
Transportation System (NextGen) goals of increasing access, efficiency, and throughput at 
many airports when low visibi lity is the limiting factor. Additionally, it enables EFVS 
operations in reduced visibilities on a greater number of approach procedure types while 
maintaining an equivalent level of safety.  G/TBT/N/USA/1256  
 
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  7. Objective and rationale , including the nature of urgent probl ems where 
applicable : Protection of human health or safety  
8. Relevant documents:  
 81 Federal Register (FR) 90126, 13 December 2016; Title 14 Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) Parts 1, 23, 25, 27,  29, 61, 91, 121, 125 and 135.  
 Revisions to Operational Requ irements for the Use of Enhanced Flight Vision 
Systems (EFVS) and to Pilot Compartment View Requirements for Vision Systems, 
Proposed Rule published 11 June 2013 : https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-
06-11/html/2013 -13454.htm ; https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2013-06-
11/pdf/2013 -13454.pdf  
9. Proposed date of adoption : 13 December 2016  
Proposed date of entry into force : The final rule is effective 13 March 2017, except for 
the amendments to Sec. Sec.  61.66 (amendatory instruction no. 15),  91.175 (amendatory 
instruction no. 18), 91.1039 (amendatory instruction no. 23), 121.651 (amendatory 
instruction no. 27), 125.325 (amendatory instruction no. 33), 125.381 (amendatory 
instruction no. 35), and 135.225 (amendatory instruction no. 38), which are effective  
13 March 2018.   
10. Final date for comments : None 
11. Texts available from : National enquiry point  [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
number s and e mail and website address es, if available , of other body : 
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2017/TBT/USA/17_0284_00_e.pdf