Cockpit Avionics Nextgen Upgrade Pace and STC Approvals
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For business aircraft operators, there are a few ways to approach the upcoming NextGen mandates. In cockpit avionicsby Matt Thurber many cases, upgrading to the latest version of Fans (Fans 1/A+) makes ADS-B OUT compliance much NextGen Upgrade Pace easier. This is because ADS-B requires an accurate position source (generally equivalent to SBAS or and STC Approvals Waas GPS), and once that is installed as part of a Fans upgrade and coupled to an ADS-B-OUT- compliant transponder and required indicators, the ADS-B requirement is met. An important consideration for ADS-B compliance is that owners/operators should plan on meeting the latest RTCA standard. Some early ADS-B upgrades were to the DO-260A standard, but DO-260B is now applicable, and any DO-260A systems must be he most restrictive aircraft equipped to receive upgraded to the -B configuration. While some ADS-B OUT mandate in traffic information via ADS-B regions of the world still accept DO-260A, the the world takes effect IN technology. U.S. and Europe mandates require DO-260B. in U.S. airspace after Other NextGen capabili- Generally, the current Australian and other midnight on Dec. 31, 2019, ties that will affect business Asia-Pacific ADS-B OUT requirements start and installation centers, STC aviation operators include above FL290. Canada’s Hudson Bay region developers and equipment future air navigation system inclusive of FL350-FL400 offers direct rout- manufacturers are scram- (Fans), for automatic provision ing for ADS-B-equipped aircraft; while not bling to help aircraft owners of position information and mandatory, it is an example of preferential and operators meet the dead- text-type messaging with ATC NextGen Mandates Retrofit deadline New-aircraft deadline line. The mandate means during oceanic operations; ADS-B OUT U.S. Jan. 1, 2020 Jan. 1, 2020 that any aircraft inadequately controller-pilot datalink com- ADS-B OUT EASA June 8, 2020 June 8, 2016 equipped to be flown in U.S. munications (CPDLC or Link (12,500+-pound airspace where a transponder 2000+ in Europe), the messag- mtow or true airspeed 250kt+) is required will be grounded ing capability alone, which is ADS-B OUT In effect (Australia In effect on Jan. 1, 2020. already being implemented at Australia, Hong Feb. 4, 2016 for The mandate for ADS-B OUT some U.S. airports for pre-de- Kong, Singapore, certain airspace; Vietnam above Feb. 2, 2017, all www.ainonline.com (automatic dependent surveil- parture clearances but isn’t FL290 IFR ops) lance-broadcast) is part of the mandatory except for Euro- Fans (all North In effect In effect FAA’s NextGen transformation pean airspace above FL285 Atlantic Organized of the National Airspace Sys- after February 2020; per- Track System FL350-FL390) tem and also global ADS-B formance-based navigation Fans (all North Dec. 7, 2017 Dec. 7, 2017 implementation. ADS-B OUT (PBN) required navigation per- Atlantic Tracks takes onboard and highly formance (RNP) approaches, MNPS airspace FL350-FL390 accurate GPS information currently available but mostly inclusive) and transmits it to ground- being flown by airlines; and Fans (all North Jan. 30, 2020 Jan. 30, 2020 based monitoring stations Tcas II Change 7.1 software, Atlantic airspace and other aircraft to provide required in Europe beginning FL290 and above) a far more accurate display Dec. 1, 2015, but available to Link 2000+ Feb. 5, 2020 Feb. 5, 2020 of aircraft location to both air any operator. (See chart for (CPDLC) (EASA, above FL285) traffic controllers and other upcoming mandates, right.) Tcas II Change 7.1 In effect In effect (EASA) © 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to cockpit avionics Aireon’s space- based ADS-B network facilitates ADS-B reception over remote and oceanic areas. treatment for better equipment. stations and works to fairly high altitudes. ADS-B suffers from zero coverage over For ADS-B, this article focuses pri- Many business aircraft operators take oceanic and remote areas, that is, until a marily on the needs of business air- advantage of ADS-B IN using inexpensive company called Aireon (not to be con- craft, which fly above the 18,000-foot receivers that connect wirelessly to mobile fused with supersonic bizjet developer threshold in the U.S. that separates devices. Avionics manufacturers are also Aerion) started installing ADS-B receiv- two ADS-B OUT standards. Above offering permanently installed ADS-B IN ers on low-Earth-orbit Iridium satellites. 18,000 feet, aircraft are required to receivers connected to cockpit displays. With the correct antenna installed on top have ADS-B OUT broadcasting on Garmin, Honeywell and Rockwell Collins, of the aircraft and a 1090ES transponder 1090 MHz (also known as 1090ES or for example, have developed airborne and with a minimum output of 125 watts, now extended squitter). Below 18,000 feet, ground-based traffic displays using ADS-B ADS-B reception can be available any- aircraft can be equipped with 978 MHz IN. Like Rockwell Collins and Honeywell, where in the world. www.ainonline.com ADS-B OUT systems (also known as 978 ACSS, the Thales/L-3 Aviation joint ven- UAT or Universal Access Transceiver). ture, has developed software that extends OEMs This two-frequency ADS-B OUT setup ADS-B IN capabilities even further, with is applicable only in the U.S. All other applications such as merging and spacing, For owners and operators of newer countries will use 1090ES exclusively. in-trail procedures and more. aircraft, NextGen mandates might not be Another wrinkle in this potentially con- In the U.S. where ADS-B OUT surveil- much of a problem. Most new business fusing situation is that in the U.S., the FAA lance is being implemented, the system aircraft now come equipped for DO-260B has created a system for aircraft equipped works via ground stations that receive ADS-B OUT, and for jets that will fly out- with ADS-B IN receivers to view traffic and the 1090ES or 978UAT broadcast from side the U.S., Fans is usually an option. weather data on compatible cockpit dis- equipped aircraft, then forwards the data If the added cost is not a factor, choosing plays, EFBs or mobile devices. ADS-B IN to air traffic controllers, or bounces it back Fans at the time of purchase will not only features include traffic information ser- into the ether for other aircraft to receive make the airplane more useful for inter- vices-broadcast (TIS-B) and flight informa- via ADS-B IN. ADS-B IN-equipped air- national travel but also preserve its value tion services-broadcast (FIS-B). These free craft can also receive ADS-B OUT sig- better when it comes time to sell. services are delivered via 978UAT and only nals directly from other aircraft, either Business aircraft that are older and not in the U.S., but reception is available within 978UAT or 1090ES only (single-band) or first in line for factory upgrade programs line-of-sight range of ADS-B ground both (dual-band). will have to be modified by aftermarket © 2016 AIN Publications. All Rights Reserved. For Reprints go to cockpit avionics Honeywell is already delivering avionics that use ADS-B IN information. repair stations, and fortunately there are avionics. The Learjet 40/45 has had a ser- company is working with partners quite a few options. vice bulletin solution since 2013, and one that will offer Fans, although there will be available for the Learjet 60 this year. has been “little demand” for it on the Bombardier For older Learjets, Bombardier has Learjet 31, 35 and 55 and Challenger Similar to other OEMs, Bombardier partnered with Butler National and Pere- 600/601, according to Bombardier. has developed service bulletin upgrades grine to serve ADS-B OUT customers. “This is the biggest change of the for ADS-B OUT on in-production and A Fans and CPDLC service bulletin is airspace system since the advent of www.ainonline.com recent models and is working with after- available for Challenger 300 customers, VORs,” said Andy Nureddin, Bombar- market providers for older Challengers who can also upgrade their cockpits to the dier vice president and general manager and Learjets. Challenger 350 configuration, which also of customer services. “We have been very The pre-Vision flight deck Global 5000 offers Fans and CPDLC. The Challenger emphatic with our customers, at every and Global Express and XRS have had 605 bulletin was available at the end of last M&O session and gathering, to show the a DO-260B ADS-B OUT service bulletin year, while the Challenger 604 upgrade will roadmap front and center. We’ve devel- since July 2013. Vision flight decks not be out in the first half of this year. Chal- oped tools to help with budgeting and already equipped will have a service bulle- lenger 650 owners have the option of add- cost estimates, and came up with advi- tin early this year. New Vision Globals are ing Fans/CPDLC during the purchase sory wires that show in a single document already equipped with ADS-B, Fans and process. All new Globals, which have the what is Fans, why do I need it and when. It CPDLC as standard. Vision flight deck, have Fans/CPDLC as guides you through, ‘if you have this avi- An ADS-B OUT service bulletin for the baseline equipment. Non-Vision Globals onics suite, here is what you need.’” Challenger 300/350 will be available in have had a service bulletin upgrade since To help operators through the maze 2016.