Avionics News October 2015 - 21

with L-3's Lynx NGT-9000 Multilink Surveillance system.
L-3 on its own made an impression with its new Lynx
lineup, unveiled in April at the AEA International Convention
& Trade Show in Dallas.
The NGT-2500, for example, combines a rule-compliant
position source and a 978 megahertz universal access transceiver into one box capable of connecting to a panel-mounted
display, such as an Aspen display, with an option to add a
wireless interface to show ADS-B In data on iPad apps.
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. This is another step that
increases flexibility in meeting the mandate and lowers the
costs for operators with aircraft already equipped with GNS
430W/530W navigators, according to the company.
Then there was Trig and its STC partner, Peregrine, unveiling an expanded line of approvals for installing the TSO'd
TT31 transponder with GPS input for an approved ADS-B
Out solution covering a broad spectrum of Part 23 aircraft.
The announcement at EAA AirVenture provides an upgrade
path for aircraft equipped with Garmin's WAAS GNS and
GTN navigators.
Trig's TT31 Mode S transponder broadcasts a 1090 extended squitter output, and is compatible with the installation
trays and antenna hardware used by BendixKing KT 76A
and KT 78A Mode C transponders. Peregrine has already
earned STC coverage for Trig transponders with various GPS
devices, including Trig's TN70 and the FreeFlight 1201 GPS
sources.
These packages make the Trig TT31 a simpler, lower-cost
installation than most alternatives. "I'm pleased to share that
our FAA ADS-B STC program now includes all Garmin GTN
navigators," said Andy Davis, Trig's chief executive officer.
"We understand that pilots want a low-cost and simple upgrade path to ADS-B, and the TT31 fully meets this brief."
NextGen Fund: Finally, funds flowing -
but still no rush
Avionics suppliers and retailers reported strong traffic
- and lots of ADS-B interest - at their booths and stands
at EAA AirVenture. "We may be seeing the ship turning to
more acceptance," said a counter man staffing one of the
many booths operated by avionics vendors and installers.
"Will it translate to people picking up the pace? Check
with me in a couple of months."
And the slowly growing availability of financial assistance under the NextGen GA Fund is expected to help now
that lower-cost options are available. A mechanism to help
operators pay for equipment and installation, this publicprivate partnership emerged out of Section 221 of the FAA

Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2012; the funds come
from private sources.
At EAA AirVenture, Michael Dyment of the NextGen GA
Fund reported that general aviation operators finally seem to
be taking seriously the pending ADS-B 2020 mandate. He
cited the firm position of no delay taken by FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, plus other factors, as the motive
force behind improved attitudes.
Earlier this year, the NextGen GA Fund announced the
launch of its Jumpstart GA 2020 program. The program
placed an order for a whopping 10,000 L-3 Aviation Lynx
NGT-1000 units, which should help many pilots move toward compliance, and shops can still charge for installation
kits and needed antennae.
In some follow-up conversations in the weeks immediately after Oshkosh ended on July 26, avionics shops contacted
acknowledged that they're hearing from more people about
the availability of new, lower-cost solutions to meeting the
ADS-B Out mandate.
But none reported a rush of business. Still, a crack in the
dike of resistance could foretell a building move to meet the
requirement sooner rather than later.
With installation needs rising and the FAA administrator
adamant that there will be no movement on the deadline,
anything that moves more people to equip can't be a bad
thing. At least not as bad as being denied access to that
Class B-bound Class C airport come Jan. 1, 2020.
ADS-B In helping raise interest as time dwindles
The FAA's carrot - the Flight Information System-Broadcast and Traffic Information Service-Broadcast - appear to
help draw interest from the previously uninterested thanks
to the weather and traffic information they provide, free of
charge. A plethora of datalink receivers - many priced less
than $1,000 - provide the benefits of ADS-B In to operators
with and without a panel-mounted display thanks to wireless
options that can play on iPad, Android and Kindle tablets.
These options move pilots into using ADS-B In, and they help
improve acceptance of the prospect of adding ADS-B Out later.
The 200,000-aircraft question - the number still needing to
meet compliance requirements as of the start of the year - is
whether all these improvements can combine to move owners
and operators toward making the decision to pick a system
and write a check.
As of this writing, the heavy betting still favors an unfulfilled backlog remaining as the clock rings out 2019 and rings
in the era of ADS-B air traffic surveillance.
But vendors at AirVenture Oshkosh reported more activity
and more takers - progress in what can best be described as
a community slowly coming around to the regulatory reality
that will exist on Jan. 1, 2020. q
avionics news

october

2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News October 2015