For Your Pilot: Garmin Receives Special Conditions for Cyber Protection

In one of the first such approvals, the FAA has granted an STC to Garmin for the installation of its G5000 integrated cockpit avionics system in the Cessna Citation 560XL. The approval is contingent on Garmin meeting  “special conditions” designed to prevent computer hacking, viruses, and other electronic security breaches.

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The Model 560XL, as modified by Garmin, will incorporate a design feature that will allow internal connections to previously isolated data networks that are connected to systems that perform functions required for the safe operation of the airplane. Consequently, the FAA said a potential exists for unauthorized persons to access the aircraft control and information domains, presenting “security vulnerabilities related to the introduction of computer viruses and worms, user errors, and intentional sabotage of airplane electronic assets.”

Because existing regulations do not cover this type of system architecture or electronic access to airplane systems, the FAA had to establish special conditions to ensure that the security of the airplane’s systems and networks is not compromised by unauthorized wired or wireless internal access. According to the FAA, these special conditions contain additional safety standards necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that of existing airworthiness standards.

The FAA said that should Garmin apply for a similar STC to modify any other aircraft with this same design feature, “These special conditions would apply to that model as well.”