This SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) provides a method for gas turbine engine performance computer programs to be written using FORTRAN COMMON blocks. If a "function-call application program interface" (API) is to be used, then ARP4868 and ARP5571 are recommended as alternatives to that described in this document. When it is agreed between the program user and supplier that a particular program shall be supplied in FORTRAN, this document shall be used in conjunction with AS681 for steady-state and transient programs.

This document also describes how to take advantage of the FORTRAN CHARACTER storage to extend the information interface between the calling program and the engine subroutine.