Posted by Diane Heiserman on Fri, Aug 05, 2011 @ 09:21 AM
Submitted by Mark Winter, Satellite Avionics Manager from Houston (HOU)
No solutions are currently available that meet the new performance standards. Equipment options are not expected until late 2011, if not later.
As of the date of this posting, there are no Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) units available that meet the performance standards of TSO-C166b. However, many Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are working towards getting their GPSs to meet the requirements of ADS-B Out.
This raises another issue to be aware of: the FAA has made it crystal clear that for an aircraft to be ADS-B Out certified, it will need to be completed either by a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) or OEM Type Certificate (TC). As the industry adjusts to the new requirements and more of these systems can be analyzed, additional installation options will be available, such as FAA Field Approval.
The entire aviation industry is working hard to understand the subject of ADS-B. There are many questions that remain without clear answers and it will be a challenge for everyone to become compliant.
For equipment requirements, certification processes, how ADS-B works, compliance for older aircraft, and estimated manufacturer Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorization dates, read "Straight Talk About ADS-B" at www.DuncanAviation.aero/straighttalk.
For a deeper discusion about system benefits, FMS compatibility and other subjects important to ADS-B, read "Straight Talk About ADS-B: Critical Factors & Considerations For Business Aircraft" in the Summer 2011 Duncan Debrief.
Mark Winter serves as the Satellite Avionics Manager for the Houston, Texas avionics shop, specializing in avionics modification and full line maintenance. He began working in aviation in 1988.
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Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, Jul 05, 2011 @ 04:30 AM
Submitted by Mark Winter, Satellite Avionics Manager from Houston (HOU)
There are many hidden issues that need to be considered about Flight Management Systems (FMS) before you take the steps to become ADS-B compliant.
Currently there are two categories of FMS and GPS solutions: those certified to meet the requirements of TSOC129a/b for older GPS, non-precision approach, and those that are certified for WAAS. Both provide adequate position accuracy for current flight regulations; however not all are able to meet the new ADS-B mandate requirements.
Older C129a/b FMS/GPS systems do not provide high-precision approach information and are not accurate enough to meet the ADS-B mandate requirements. The FAA will provide the requirements to the OEMs, but it is highly unlikely that manufactures will recertify these units to meet the new requirements or modify their receivers to put out the required format of position data.
WAAS-certified FMS/GPS meet the high-precision accuracy requirements, but when OEMs designed these, they did not include the outputs necessary to feed the transponders.
To bridge this gap, the FAA is planning on releasing an additional TSO to the manufactures with guidance or specifications to design a “patch” to meet the ADS-B mandate requirements. FAA has not released a second advisory circular that discusses the mandate for patch TSO. Manufacturers won’t begin work until this is released.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE: This new patch TSO from the FAA is only part of the overall process in getting an aircraft certified asADS-B out certified.
The biggest problem an operator will face with this mandate will be waiting for the industry OEMs to catch up with solutions to their aircraft.
For more information about ADS-B, download "Straight Talk About ADS-B" at www.DuncanAviation.aero/straighttalk. Or feel free to contact our avionics experts with your questions and challenges when the subject of ADS-B arises.
Mark Winter serves as the Satellite Avionics Manager for the Houston, Texas avionics shop, specializing in avionics modification and full line maintenance. He began working in aviation in 1988.
For more updates from Duncan Aviation, please follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Posted by Diane Heiserman on Fri, Jun 10, 2011 @ 08:49 AM
Contributed by Mark Winter, Satellite Avionics Manager at Houston, Texas (HOU).
Your ADS-B budget plan will depend on the make/model of your aircraft and your future flying needs. Begin budgeting now.
Mark Winter, Satellite Avionics Manager from Houston (HOU) continues his ADS-B series with answers to common questions about the costs and benefits of becoming ADS-B compiant.
What are the costs and downtime associated with becoming ADS-B compliant?
Costs will vary depending on the age, size and existing onboard systems on your aircraft. I anticipate the costs will be lower for newer aircraft with more modern avionics suites that have EFIS and WAAS and higher for aircraft with older transponders and non-precision GPS and Flight Management Systems.
Downtime will be different for each aircraft depending on what is required for each to become compliant.
Is ADS-B worth the investment older aircraft?
Unfortunately, the investment required to make older aircraft ADS-B compliant may easily be more than the aircraft is worth. If that is the case, it may be time to trade up and find an aircraft that can more easily support the upgrade. If you plan to keep your aircraft for another 7-10 years, the investment makes more sense.
What are the operational benefits of ADS-B?
Operational benefits are simple. Because non-ADS-B certified aircraft will not be allowed in controlled airspace, all other aircraft will be able to operate safer in the air and on airport taxi-ways.
For more information about ADS-B, download "Straight Talk About ADS-B" at www.DuncanAviation.aero/straighttalk
Mark Winter serves as the Satellite Avionics Manager for the Houston, Texas avionics shop, specializing in avionics modification and full line maintenance. He began working in aviation in 1988.
For more updates from Duncan Aviation, please follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, May 10, 2011 @ 02:57 PM
Contributed by Mark Winter, Satellite Avionics Manager at Houston, Texas (HOU).
The road to ADS-B compliance by 2020 will have several challenges. But one of the most important things you need to understand is, if you fly an aircraft in the United States and many other countries, ADS-B applies to you.
Below Mark Winter, Satellite Avionics Manager from Houston (HOU) answers questions about the impact of ADS-B on your aircraft.
1. What do I really need to know about ADS-B?
The most important thing the aviation community needs to understand is the ADS-B mandate due in 2020 has nothing to do with the airframe make/model, weight category or cabin size of your aircraft. This mandate is solely an airspace requirement that requires all aircraft to be certified with the ADS-B out equipment by 2020. Simply put if your aircraft is not certified with the correct ADS-B out equipment, it will not be allowed into controlled airspace.
2. How will this impact the operation of my aircraft?
There is no impact to the operation of your aircraft with the exception that the transponder will not be turned to off or to standby while your aircraft is on the ground. The ADS-B Out system will be used on the ground for the ground-based radar system that is currently being used at larger airports.
3. What system upgrade is required to be ADS-B compliant?
If you operate your aircraft in Class A or foreign airspace (outside of the U.S.), your aircraft needs to be equipped with a precision GPS and Mode S transponders with 1090-ES (Extended Squitter). Piston aircraft that operate below 18,000 feet in the U.S. may have the option to install a data link radio, called a UAT and a precision GPS with an altitude encoder.
4. How will ADS-B affect aircraft with older systems?
Many of the aircraft that I see on a daily basis are still equipped with older technology, such as the basic Mode A and C Transponders. These aircraft will need to be upgraded with new transponders. However this is only part of the solution, a GPS that meets the requirements of the ADS-B mandate will also need to be installed.
5. Can aircraft operate without ADS-B Out after the 2020 mandate?
As I have stated before, this mandate is for controlled airspace only. There is airspace that is considered uncontrolled. Non-compliant Aircraft will be able to fly in that airspace. This is not to say that sometime in the future the FAA will require all aircraft to have some sort of ADS-B out equipment.
For more information about ADS-B, download "Straight Talk About ADS-B" at www.DuncanAviation.aero/straighttalk
Mark Winter serves as the Satellite Avionics Manager for the Houston, Texas avionics shop, specializing in avionics modification and full line maintenance. He began working in aviation in 1988.
For more updates from Duncan Aviation, please follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.
Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, Mar 29, 2011 @ 10:25 AM
Contributed by Matt Nelson, Manager of Satellite Operations
Most people in aviation have heard about NextGen, the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) vision for the future of national airspace management and control. That vision is quickly becoming a reality with the 2020 mandate for implementing Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).
ADS-B is the first step in the transition of Air Traffic Control (ATC) from a ground-based radar network to a satellite-based system. This FAA mandate will have a huge impact on the entire aviation industry, affecting, to a certain degree, every aircraft in U.S. airspace.
ADS-B: What is it?
In the simplest of terms, ADS-B is a satellite-based transmission system that allows aircraft to transmit (ADS-B Out) and receive (ADS-B In) information to and from ATC ground stations and other properly equipped aircraft.
ADS-B Out will be mandated by the FAA in the airspace that now requires Mode-C transponder. ADS-B In, at this time, will be optional for most aircraft.
NextGen Technologies
As mentioned, ADS-B is just the first step in achieving all of NextGen’s goals. The following are other technologies related to NextGen that are being developed and tested.
- Ground Based Augmentation System (GBAS)
- Multilateration
- Airport Surface Detection Equipment model X (ASDE-X)
- Data Comm Integrated with FMS
My team and I have spent the last few months finding and condensing information about ADS-B, which we hope will answer many of your concerns on ADS-B for your aircraft. For a more in-depth look, read “Straight Talk About ADS-B” at www.DuncanAviation.aero/straighttalk/adsb.
Feel free to contact our avionics experts with your questions and challenges when the subject of ADS-B arises.
Matt Nelson serves as the Manager of Satellite Operations for Duncan Aviation’s avionics network and is a co-author of “Straight Talk About ADS-B.” He began working in aviation in 1987.
For more updates from Duncan Aviation, please follow us on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.