FAA TSO-179b — Technical Standard Order: Aircraft Lithium Battery Systems is the FAA’s Technical Standard Order for qualifying aircraft lithium battery systems. TSO approval demonstrates that a battery system meets FAA-defined minimum performance standards and is eligible for installation on certified aircraft without requiring full article re-qualification at each installation.
What TSO approval means
TSO-179b references RTCA DO-311A as its technical standard. A battery system holding TSO-179b approval has passed the DO-311A minimum performance standards including cell-level safety qualification, system-level performance, environmental qualification per DO-160, and BMS requirements. TSO approval simplifies installation approval but does not by itself authorise installation — the installer must still show the specific installation meets applicable airworthiness requirements.
Relationship to other standards
TSO-179b is used in conjunction with RTCA DO-311A and FAA AC 20-184A, together forming the full FAA qualification and installation approval pathway for aircraft lithium battery systems.
References
- TSO-C179b Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery Systems, Federal Aviation Administration (searchable via the FAA Dynamic Regulatory System)