Avidyne taps FreeFlight for ADS-B In
UAT receiver fills gap from NavWorx’s demise
Melbourne, Florida-based Avidyne Corp. has partnered with FreeFlight Systems of Irving, Texas, which will provide its Rangr Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast In products for Avidyne customers who desire ADS-B In capability for their Avidyne integrated avionics systems. Avidyne will bundle a FreeFlight Rangr 978-MHz universal access transceiver (UAT) ADS-B receiver with its IFDs and ADS-B Out-capable Mode S extended squitter transponders.
“With the transition to this FreeFlight partnership, we are pleased to be offering uninterrupted delivery of an ADS-B In solution as part of our successful IFD/ADS-B bundle, in lieu of the legacy SkyTrax100,” said Mitch Biggs, Avidyne vice president of sales and marketing. “Our IFD550/540/440 product line provides beautiful display and overlay on the moving map of FIS-B weather and ADS-B traffic from the Rangr.” The IFD units also are the approved GPS position source for Avidyne’s ADS-B Out transponders.
“Through our partnership with Avidyne, aircraft operators can now purchase a comprehensive package that provides enhanced situational awareness through the available ADS-B services,” said Pete Ring, FreeFlight Systems vice president of sales and marketing. The TSO-certified Rangr RX provides pilots with critical ADS-B Flight Information Services-Broadcast (FIS-B) and Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B) data, both modernizing the aircraft cockpit and drastically improving situational awareness, he said. “This is an ideal solution for many general aviation clients who want to fly with the additional benefits that ADS-B In brings to the cockpit.”
Combining the reliability of the Avidyne series of Mode S transponders with FreeFlight Systems’ Rangr RX ADS-B receiver will provide GA aircraft owners a complete and cost-effective way to equip with ADS-B In and Out for the upcoming Jan. 1, 2020, mandate, Ring added.
Under Avidyne’s ADS-B/IFD promotions, customers still will receive a UAT for ADS-B In functionality; the pricing remains unchanged at $2,499. However, going forward the Rangr FDL-978-RX ADS-B In product will be shipped and supported directly by FreeFlight Systems. Avidyne IFD customers can purchase a SkyTrax AXP340 or AXP322 Mode S transponder with ADS-B Out and a Rangr FDL-978-RX for ADS-B In for a bundled price of $4,499.
Avidyne also announced that it received FAA supplemental type certification for R10.2.1 software on its IFD navigator series in late February. New features and product improvements of the R10.2.1 software upgrade includes support for helicopter-specific features including heliport data and helicopter SIDS/STARS/instrument approaches—a new option designed for helicopter operators.
“R10.2.1 certification comes on the heels of our announcement that we received STC approval for our IFDs in Robinson helicopters,” said Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn. “While R10.2.1 delivers product improvements for IFD customers flying any type of aircraft, we are especially excited to add helicopter enablement features that really focus on the specific needs of helicopter operators.”
