RTCA, Inc. (known as Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics until their re-incorporation in 1991 as a not-for-profit corporation) is a volunteer organization that develops technical guidance for use by government regulatory authorities and by industry. Requirements for membership include a fee that is based on information in the application for membership, and an interest in aviation. RTCA is sponsored as a Federal Advisory Committee by the Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration. Guidance documents are developed and drafted by Special Committee (SC) and are based on a consensus developed within the SC charged with responsibility for the given document. Despite the loosely defined requirements of membership in RTCA, the guidance documents are based on expert technical opinion.
RTCA's objectives include but are not limited to:
Although RTCA is sponsored by the FAA, it is not (itself) an agency of the United States Government, hence the reason for its work output (documents) as guidelines, not as requirements.