EASA AD 2021-0013
Navigation — Global Navigation Satellite System — Replacement / Aircraft Flight Manual — Amendment
Summary
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0013 addresses the replacement of Thales Topstar 200 LPV GPS/SBAS receivers on ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-212A aeroplanes. This directive applies to aircraft equipped with specific affected part numbers and mandates amendments to the Aircraft Flight Manual. The directive ensures continued airworthiness by mitigating risks associated with erroneous GPS position outputs during certain satellite constellation conditions.
What Changed
EASA Airworthiness Directive 2021-0013 requires the replacement of affected Thales Topstar 200 LPV GPS/SBAS receivers with improved Topstar 200 LPV-2 receivers. It also mandates concurrent amendments to the Aircraft Flight Manual to reflect these changes. This AD supersedes previous operational restrictions imposed by AD 2019-0004 by allowing the use of the improved receivers without limitations on LPV and RNP-AR procedures.
Why It Matters
This directive is critical for aviation professionals to maintain safe navigation performance on ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft. Operators and maintenance organizations must ensure compliance to prevent potential erroneous GPS positioning that could compromise safety margins during precision approach operations. Compliance ensures adherence to regulatory requirements and avoids operational restrictions related to navigation procedures.
What To Do
Operators of Group 1 ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-212A aeroplanes must replace each affected Thales Topstar 200 LPV receiver with the improved Topstar 200 LPV-2 within 24 months from 2021-01-27. Concurrently, the Aircraft Flight Manual must be amended according to the applicable ATR Service Bulletins. Installation of affected parts is prohibited after modification, and compliance with these requirements removes the aircraft from the scope of AD 2019-0004.
Your fleet's weekly compliance brief
AI-summarized regulatory changes, compliance deadlines, and action items — filtered to your aircraft, every Monday.
AI-generated summary from official EASA source document. Always verify against the original.