{"id":"F2009L01503","name":"AD/RAD/90 - FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O Approach Plus GPS Navigation System","slug":"ad-rad-90-freeflight-systems-2101-i-o-approach-plus-gps-navigation-system","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":78115,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2009L01503-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Radio Communication and Navigation Equip","sectionType":"division","heading":"Radio Communication and Navigation Equipment","content":"### Radio Communication and Navigation Equipment\n\n| AD/RAD/90 | FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O ApproachPlus GPS Navigation System | 5/2009 |\n| --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ------ |\n\n| Applicability: | Trimble or FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O Approach Plus global positioning system (GPS) navigation system (2101 I/O Approach Plus system), part number81440-xx-241E, 81440-xx-241F or 81440-xx-241G (xx indicates either the numbers 02, 03, or 12), with software revision -241E, -241F or -241G, installed.                                                                                                                      |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Requirement:   | Unless accomplished previously, upgrade the system software to revision -241J.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |\n|                | Note 1: Sections II and III of FreeFlight Systems Service Bulletin SB81440-XX-00-19, dated 12 December 2006, pertains to the requirements of this Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |\n|                | Note 2: FAA AD 2009-05-08 Amdt 39-15832 refers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |\n| Compliance:    | For aircraft approved for instrument flight rule (IFR) flight - Within 180 days after the effective date of this Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |\n|                | For aircraft approved for visual flight rule (VFR) flight - Within 270 days after the effective date of this Directive.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |\n|                | This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 7 May 2009.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |\n| Background:    | The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has advised of an incident that led to the discovery of several annunciation errors with the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system. The actions specified by this Directive are intended to prevent a pilot from making an unsafe decision based on erroneous information provided by the 2101 I/O Approach Plus system, which could result in loss of control of the aircraft. |\n\n![](image.001.png)  \nJames Coyne  \nDelegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority\n\n26 March 2009","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"AD/RAD/90","sectionType":"part","heading":"AD/RAD/90","content":"## AD/RAD/90","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O ApproachPlus","sectionType":"part","heading":"FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O ApproachPlus GPS Navigation System","content":"## FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O Approach  \nPlus GPS Navigation System","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"5/2009","sectionType":"part","heading":"5/2009","content":"## 5/2009","sortOrder":3}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The Directive does not change the aircraft's operational approvals or permitted uses; it only mandates a software upgrade for specified units and sets compliance timeframes (see Requirement and Compliance). It therefore narrows mandated equipment state without altering the regulatory scope of flight approvals."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow technical applicability defined by explicit part numbers and existing software revisions (Applicability).","Single prescriptive action: mandatory software upgrade to a specified revision (Requirement).","Different compliance deadlines for IFR versus VFR approval, creating staggered implementation (Compliance).","External dependencies: refers to FreeFlight Service Bulletin SB81440-XX-00-19 and FAA AD 2009-05-08 for procedural detail (Notes).","Implementation logistics may require vendor procedures or maintenance access to avionics, imposing operational and cost burdens on operators (Requirement + Note 1).","Safety rationale tied to annunciation errors discovered after an incident, focusing remedy on software rather than hardware changes (Background)."],"plain_english_summary":"This Airworthiness Directive requires aircraft fitted with specific Trimble/FreeFlight 2101 I/O Approach Plus GPS units (listed part numbers and software revisions) to have their system software upgraded to revision -241J. Aircraft owners/operators must arrange and pay for the upgrade. Compliance deadlines differ: IFR-approved aircraft within 180 days and VFR-approved aircraft within 270 days. The stated purpose is to fix annunciation errors in the unit that could cause a pilot to act on incorrect information."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a standard, targeted Airworthiness Directive addressing a specific safety defect in a specific avionics system. The scope remains precisely limited to the identified GPS units and the required software fix, consistent with the original purpose of ADs."},"complexity_factors":["Very short document (approximately 300 words)","Only 3 defined technical elements: specific part numbers (81440-xx-241E/F/G), software revisions (-241E/F/G), and the target revision (-241J)","Simple conditional structure: two compliance deadlines based on aircraft certification type (IFR vs VFR)","Single operative requirement (software upgrade) with clear reference to external technical document (Service Bulletin SB81440-XX-00-19)","No nested exceptions, no cross-references to other legislation, no interpretive provisions"],"plain_english_summary":"This CASA Airworthiness Directive mandates a software upgrade to revision -241J for FreeFlight Systems 2101 I/O Approach Plus GPS units to correct annunciation errors that can give pilots misleading warnings or displays. It applies to aircraft fitted with the affected units—IFR operators must comply within 180 days and VFR operators within 270 days—because incorrect GPS indications could lead to unsafe decisions and loss of control."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ad-rad-90-freeflight-systems-2101-i-o-approach-plus-gps-navigation-system","history":"/api/acts/ad-rad-90-freeflight-systems-2101-i-o-approach-plus-gps-navigation-system/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ad-rad-90-freeflight-systems-2101-i-o-approach-plus-gps-navigation-system/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ad-rad-90-freeflight-systems-2101-i-o-approach-plus-gps-navigation-system/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ad-rad-90-freeflight-systems-2101-i-o-approach-plus-gps-navigation-system/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ad-rad-90-freeflight-systems-2101-i-o-approach-plus-gps-navigation-system/documents"}}