FAA AD Seeks HUD Fix, EFVS Limits on Global 7500
An FAA airworthiness directive prohibits steep approach landing and EFVS use until the HUD is calibrated on Bombardier Global 7500s.
Bombardier said most operators have taken steps to fix misalignment issues with the HUD on the Global 7500. (Photo: Bombardier)

The has released an airworthiness directive (AD) that prohibits steep-approach landing and enhanced flight vision system operations (EFVS) on Bombardier Global 7500s until a mandatory calibration of the head-up display (HUD) is completed.

AD 2022-27-02 stems from a report of a lateral offset between the synthetic vision system and the actual runway that was observed on several Global 7500s, said the FAA, citing a mechanical misalignment of the HUD during manufacture as the cause of this offset. If not corrected, such an offset could create an incorrect airplane reference display on the HUD and lead to excessive deviation during landing. The agency warned that this could affect steep-approach and EFVS operations.

Proposed in June, the AD followed a similar action taken in November 2021 by Transport Canada. The FAA is calling for a revision to the airplane flight manual within 30 days of the effective AD date of March 17. The HUD calibration must be accomplished within 27 months.

The AD references Bombardier service information. Bombardier originally communicated the issue to operators in late 2020 and issued a service bulletin to correct the problem in 2021.

According to the FAA, the AD has affected as many as 40 aircraft on the U.S. Registry at a cost of $10,800 to $24,000 per aircraft, depending on the number of HUDs installed. However, the FAA said those figures do not take warranties into account.

“The large majority have already proceeded to complete the required calibration procedures,” Bombardier said.