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Chapter 14 - Navigation and Communication Equipment.

1400. General

Operational safety certification (as opposed to design certification) of Canadian A.C.V's require the installation of navigation and communications equipment appropriate to, and compatible with, the service and local available facilities. As a minimum, for daylight operation, at least one fixed radio transceiver, one portable radio transceiver for use with installed life-saving appliances, and one intercom system will be required; for night or limited-visibility operation, at least radar would also be required.

The vehicle manufacturer should therefore make spatial, structural and power provision to permit the installation of such equipment as may be required, and which may be selected by the vehicle owner.

1401. Equipment Approval. 

No radio communication or navigation equipment which may emit electro-magnetic radiations may be installed in an A.C.V. operating in Canada unless such equipment has been type-approved by the Department of Communications. Comprehensive lists of type-approved equipment are published regularly and are available from the Department of Communications Telecommunications Regulatory Service.

1402. Equipment Installation. 

The relevant provisions regarding installation, circuit protection, switching and bonding, contained in Chapter 13, shall be observed.

1403. In providing circuit protection, supply protection provided in the equipment shall either be readily accessible and externally identified, or it shall be rendered inoperative.

1404. Any equipment capable of emitting electro-magnetic radiations shall be installed so as to minimise the exposure of personnel to the radiations, and to minimize mutual interference between installed equipments.

1405. The design of all installations shall include protection of the equipment from the operational environment, paying particular attention to the prevention of corrosion, condensation and the ingress of spray or dust.

1406. Except where required for performing it's normal function, no component of a communication or navigation system shall be installed:-

1. In spaces provided for passenger accommodation;
2. Less than 10 cm. above the floating waterline at the maximum weight for which certification is sought;
3. In a Designated Fire Zone.

1407. Equipment shall be installed such that all displays and controls are readily visible and accessible to the appropriate crew member when seated at his normal duty station. No radar or other navigational display shall be positioned such that it distracts, or requires distraction of, the attention of a crew member from his primary assigned duty.

1408. Antennae. 

Antennae shall be installed and supported to withstand all aerodynamic, vehicle motion, and icing loads to which they may be subjected resulting from vehicle operating within it's operational and environmental envelope.

1409. Due attention shall be paid to the positioning of antennae relative to fan intakes, airscrews and directional control devices.

1410. Provision shall be made to ensure that antennae cannot be energized when personnel are working on or in close proximity to them.

1411. Where antennae depend for their effective performance upon the maintenance of a pressurized atmosphere in the wave-guide, the manufacturer shall ensure adequate provision is made to seal the wave-guide and provide accessible means to indicate and replenish the pressure.

1412. Antennae shall be positioned relative to each other so as to avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, mutual interference of performance, and to avoid physical interference.

1420. Compass Installations. (See also Section 1460)

All A.C.V's shall be provided with at least one compass; in A.C.V's with a mechanically or electrically operated compass system, a second direct-reading magnetic compass shall be installed.

1421. At least one direct-reading magnetic compass shall be readily visible at the crew station from which the vehicle is normally manoeuvred; all compass instrument installations shall minimise parallax error.

1422. The installation of any compass which is dependent for it's indication upon the earth's magnetic field shall provide for adjustment to reduce deviation to a maximum of 2° on any heading, taking due account of the operation of installed electrical or electronic equipment.

1423. Flux valves or other sensing elements shall be installed in spaces as remote as practicable from electro-magnetic noise, and shall be secured and enclosed using non-magnetic materials.

1430. Other Navigation Aids. 

Speed Measurement. 

Manufacturers shall provide, to the maximum extent practicable, a means whereby the speed of the vehicle may be determined along it's track.

1431. Depth Indication. 

Non-amphibious marine A.C.V's shall be equipped with an efficient depth sounding device capable of providing depth indication at least when in the displacement mode.

1432. Displays of navigation aids which are not essential for the immediate attention of the person manoeuvring the vehicle shall be positioned so as to provide minimum distraction.

1450. Sources of Power. 

All permanently installed communications and navigation equipment dependent for their operation upon electrical power shall be provided with electrical power, as required by the equipment specification, from the normal electrical distribution system of the vehicle.

1451. The vehicle sources of electrical power and distribution system shall be so arranged to provide electrical power to at least one radio communication transceiver as required by section 1400 under emergency conditions, including failures of normal power supply generation and conditions resulting from any damage considered as required by Chapter 3.

1452. Provision shall be made to ensure that the portable radio transceiver required by section 1161 shall be maintained in a fully charged condition; any charging supplied from the vehicle electrical system shall be capable of being delivered from all installed sources of electrical power.

1460. Navigation Equipment for Remote or High Latitude Areas.

The requirements of section 1420 thru' 1423, and of section 1430 may require to be modified or supplemented for Air Cushion Vehicles intending to be operated in remote areas, in high latitudes, or in areas of large magnetic anomalies.

1470. Navigating Safety 

Navigation Lights.  

All A.C.V's shall be provided with navigation lights in compliance with the requirements of the International Rules for the Prevention of Collision at Sea applicable to a conventional power-driven vessel of the same length.

1471. In addition to the lights required by section 1470, all A.C.V's shall be provided with an amber flashing light, visible all round for a distance of not less than 2 nautical miles. The flashing characteristic, which may be obtained by rotation, switching or shutters, shall be adjusted to a rate of flashing of not less than 120 per minute.

1472. All navigation lights shall be so positioned and screened to minimise back-scatter of light in conditions of low visibility or spray.

1473. All navigation lights shall be constructed and possess the chromaticity requirements in accordance with the International Rules quoted in section 1470, and shall be installed to provide the visibility ranges of sectors contained therein.

1474. In complying with section 1470, the following lights shall be permanently fitted:-

1. Port and starboard sidelights;
   
   
2. Masthead light(s);
   
   
3. Stern light;
   
   
4. Not-under-Command lights, positioned and spaced in compliance with the International Rules. Where vehicle configuration renders full compliance impractical, exceptional consideration may be given to alternate arrangements proposed by the manufacturer.

1475. Separate switching shall be provided to enable independent display of lights as follows:-

1. Sidelights, stern light and masthead light(s) together;
   
   
2. Amber flashing light;
   
   
3. Not-under-Command lights;
   
   
4. One all-round white light for use when anchored.

1476. With the exception of the amber flashing light, all navigation lights shall be duplicated; warning of the extinction of any bulb shall be provided in the compartment from which the vehicle is normally manoeuvred, and switches shall be provided to select alternate bulbs.

1477. Arrangements shall be made for the control of electric navigation lights to be supplied from normal and emergency sources of power.

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