Avionics News January 2014 - 19

"ADS-B In doesn't give me anything I don't already
tronic flight bag technology and away from paper charts,
have," groused one acquaintance who flies the Eastern
plates and directories, a perfect storm began to form.
Seaboard, "but I have to spend big bucks to improve the
A number of unrelated issues factored into the formaFAA's life."
tion of that perfect storm. And today, ADS-B In receivers
Not even pointing out the promised free services availhave become the hot item for use with cockpit and porable via ADS-B In technology salved complaints.
table devices.
"That's a lousy deal," said one pilot.
Tablet computers running specialized software and
And this guy, who voiced what many owners chalspecific accessory hardware can now function as a satellenged, does have a point - at least for those pilots allite navigation system with a moving map, a POH, AFM,
ready flying with traffic and
facilities directory, check
weather solutions.
list, and display to show both
There was, as always, a
weather and traffic through
different side in the debate;
the free FIS and TIS broadPilots increasingly are
most wanted to wait and see
casts available to anyone
what ADS-B would cost,
with an ADS-B In receiver.
looking at how to make
long-term. We have, they
Taken together, the interreason, until 2020.
twined advances in tablets
flying less expensive -
And if ADS-B In can be
and software helped spark a
and wherever they can
a budget enhancement to
rapid takeover from paper by
an ADS-B Out install, or,
the nearly ubiquitous elecmake flying cost less,
better still, something availtronic flight bag - in particuable independent and with a
lar, EFBs based on Apple's
well, there are plenty
flexible display capability,
iPad.
well, as one Kansas pilot
Whether your client flies
interested in spending
said, "The ADS-B In option
a NORDO antique, a panelless ... even when it means
is something I want in on ...
challenged vintage airplane,
I'm ready to join the ADS-B
a classic spam can, a light
first spending a little.
In Crowd."
sport aircraft, an exotic
Today, equipped with one
homebuilt, a run-of-the-mill
of the new portable ADS-B
factory-built piston twin or
In receivers working with
all-glass business-turbine
his Apple iPad, he's enjoying the benefits once limited to
aircraft, a solution exists to bring into the cockpit free
those with the budget to pay serious five figures to add
traffic and full-spectrum live weather - and playable on
to their aircraft. Pilots flying without the benefit of such
cockpit displays as well as tablet or smartphone screens.
traffic and weather are among the early adopters springAll for the investment in hardware and software costs.
ing for barely four figures to add access to in-flight FIS,
So there's little question interest in ADS-B In seems to
or the flight information service and its weather-data
be on the upswing.
companion for the cockpit, TIS - the traffic information
Pilots increasingly are looking at how to make flying
service.
less expensive - and wherever they can make flying cost
less, well, there are plenty interested in spending less ...
COST-EFFICIENT CO-OPTION:
even when it means first spending a little.
THE INVERSE INFLUENCE OF HIGHER FLYING COSTS
The cost and convenience of digital charts and plates
"Free" has a way of insinuating itself into flight bags
- and with more of those flight bags transitioning to elecContinued on following page
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2014

Avionics News January 2014

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