It seemed like it would be a routine Sunday trip back to Wichita for the crew of a corporate Cessna Citation CJ3. But when a handful of abnormal alerts popped up on the ECAM (electronic centralized aircraft monitor) display, the pilot in command went on alert as well. With a “PFD Compare Fail” noting a discrepancy between the two primary flight displays, he had a feeling it was serious.
Collins GPS & ADS-B Receivers Struck By Failure Modes
Key Takeaways:
- A routine flight experienced navigation system failures and abnormal alerts due to issues with specific Collins Aerospace GPS and multi-mode receiver units.
- The problem stemmed from a Collins Aerospace software design error in how the GPS-4000S sensor interpreted a "leap second" event during a US Government GPS satellite almanac update on June 9, 2019.
- The issue was widespread, affecting many business jets and some regional/major airlines, leading to flight cancellations and an FAA advisory.
- Collins Aerospace advised operators not to power up the affected units until after a subsequent scheduled US government GPS update on June 16, 2019.
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