Experimentals, Light Sport get another option
By Mike Collins
Collaboration was the unexpected theme of several product announcements at EAA AirVenture 2015 involving Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). The FAA has mandated that aircraft owners equip with ADS-B Out by January 1, 2020, to continue to fly in most airspace where a transponder is required today.
Most noteworthy among the ADS-B announcements were two that could signal the beginning of a trend toward increased collaboration and interoperability between products.
Garmin opens Flight Stream to ForeFlight
Users of the popular ForeFlight flight planning, navigation, and weather app (see “Meet the King,” page 64) will be able to receive ADS-B In weather and traffic information from the Garmin GDL 84 and GDL 88 ADS-B receivers through Garmin’s Flight Stream 210/110 wireless bridge. Previously, only the Garmin Pilot app had that capability.
“This came together pretty quickly over the last few months,” said Tyson Weihs, ForeFlight co-founder and CEO. “Our customers want greater connectivity, and this provides it in a pretty powerful way.” Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president for aviation sales and marketing, said he welcomed ForeFlight into the company’s connectivity ecosystem.
ForeFlight users cannot upload flight plans into Garmin panel-mount avionics, as can Garmin Pilot users, but both companies said that they will be adding capabilities in the future. Garmin said that it will continue to update and enhance the Garmin Pilot app.
Aspen, L-3 partner on ADS-B options
Aspen Avionics and L-3 Aviation Products are collaborating on an integrated system that combines Aspen primary and multifunction displays with L-3’s Lynx NGT-9000 MultiLink Surveillance System, a Mode S extended squitter transponder that provides ADS-B Out compliance. The Lynx NGT-9000 also has 978UAT ADS-B In capability, an integrated touchscreen display, and an internal WAAS GPS receiver that provides the accurate positon required by the ADS-B Out rules. The NGT-9000 will share its ADS-B traffic and weather data with the Aspen Evolution displays, giving pilots additional options to display the data.
“When avionics manufacturers work together, it creates a culture of innovation where the outcome can benefit the entire general aviation community,” said John Uczekaj, Aspen president and CEO. “Aspen and L-3 share a common philosophy; we firmly believe that open systems create more opportunities for collaboration.”
“The entire community benefits when avionics manufacturers work together to bring integrated and affordable technologies to the cockpit,” agreed Larry Riddle, L-3 Aviation Products vice president of marketing and sales for business, regional, and general aviation.
Will these collaborations lead to more open system architecture and additional collaboration in the ADS-B marketplace? Time will tell—stay tuned.
Dynon announces Experimental,Light Sport solution
Dynon Avionics’ new SV-GPS-2020 GPS Receiver/Antenna provides Experimental—amateur-built and Light Sport aircraft owners with a 2020-compliant ADS-B Out WAAS GPS position source for new and existing SkyView and Advanced AF-5000 series glass panels and moving-map displays. Because the $590 unit is a drop-in replacement for the existing SV-GPS-250 receiver, owners will not need to run additional wires or cable.
When combined with the company’s SV-XPNDR-261 Mode-S transponder, the company said SkyView and Advanced Flight Systems customers can meet the FAA’s transponder and ADS-B Out requirements for $2,790; the SV-ADSB-470 Traffic and Weather Receiver, which receives 978UAT data for improved situational awareness, is an additional $995.
Dynon joins NavWorx in offering a solution for Experimental and Light Sport aircraft. NavWorx’s ADS600-EXP, starting at $1,149, is a remote-mount 978UAT transceiver that provides both ADS-B Out and ADS-B In capabilities. An ADS-B-compliant WAAS GPS receiver is built in.
Other ADS-B news
FreeFlight Systems announced that its line of RANGR ADS-B transceivers now can use Garmin GNS 430W and GNS 530W GPS navigators as approved GPS position sources for ADS-B Out compliance. That will increase equipage flexibility and provide cost savings for owners of aircraft currently equipped with GNS 430W/530W navigators, FreeFlight said.
Trig Avionics announced a significant expansion of its FAA STC program for the company’s TT31, a Mode S transponder with Extended Squitter capability. All Garmin GTN navigators have been approved as ADS-B Out position sources, said Andy Davis, Trig CEO. In addition, the list of approved aircraft for Trig’s AML STC for the TT31 has been expanded to nearly 600 models. The STC for Trig’s similar TT22, a remote-mount transponder, was expanded to 576 aircraft in August, the company said.
L-3 Aviation Products’ innovative Lynx NGT-9000 MultiLink Surveillance System models have been added to the Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certificate (AML STC) for a large number of general aviation aircraft, allowing owners to consider it for ADS-B Out and ADS-B In applications. The NGT-9000 had received FAA Technical Standard Order authorization earlier this year.
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See AOPA’s new online ADS-B resources and ADS-B selection tool.
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