Aspen E1000 shutdowns prompt AD
Software patch resolves issue
The FAA published an airworthiness directive July 31 that limits aircraft equipped with Aspen Avionics Evolution Flight Display EFD1000 systems to day VFR flight unless and until a software patch is installed to resolve a problem that has caused the primary, multifunction, and emergency backup displays of an EFD1000 system to shut down in flight.
The direct-to-final rule takes effect August 17, and requires changes to the airplane flight manual unless the software has been updated in accordance with Aspen Service Bulletin SB2020-01 issued April 1.
Aspen first reported the problem to the FAA in February, the AD states.
If the software update detailed in the April service bulletin remains incomplete, the FAA will require updates of the airplane flight manual indicating that night and IFR flights are prohibited in the affected aircraft. The AD includes no estimated cost for the software update, and the directive is estimated to affect 900 aircraft in the U.S. registry, though it is not clear if the FAA included aircraft that are exempt by compliance with the service bulletin in that estimate. Flight manual revisions are estimated to cost $21.25 per manual, or $19,125 for the fleet.
The FAA invites comments on the AD, and they may be submitted online, or by mail to: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. Comments may also be faxed to 202-493-2251. Comments should include the docket number FAA-2020-0711 and product identifier MCAI-2020-00719-A at the beginning.
