Avionics News May 2019 - 35

FAA Approved
STC for ADS-B
Pairing Solution
Airtext from Send Solutions is another FAA-approved talkand-text Iridium system. Like all Iridium connections, the box
is the size of a small paperback book. And like similar systems,
it depends on data subscriptions and per-text fees.
The cost of data isn't the only challenge facing satellitebased systems. "There are bandwidth challenges that are
somewhat related to antenna and system size," said Kauffman,
which make in-flight downloads of large files of any kind
impractical. When it comes to firmware updates, "certifications
are manageable but will require things like guarantees of
firmware and database integrity, as well as prevention of
accidental downloads while in-flight."
Garmin's GSR 56 is the Iridium satellite data link for the
company's Connext flight connectivity system. It provides
subscription-based talk, text, on-demand weather, on demand
weather reporting, and transmission of aircraft maintenance
reports. Mobile devices connect to it though the Flight Stream
510 Wi-Fi portal.
Ultimately, how much data a satellite system can feed
airplanes is proportional to the size of its antenna, according to
Stone. Looking at some of the Inmarsat solutions on airliners,
"to get the speeds they deliver, the antennas are the size of
surfboards. Realistically, what can be installed on a (twinengine Beech) Baron, for example, only supports speeds in the
200 kilobyte range. That's fine for text messaging, but it is too
slow - and too expensive - for any kind of file transfer."
Technology's Predictable Progress
Technology's introduction of new capabilities breeds
impatience in humans eager for what's next in every aspect of
life. But the life-and-death consequences of system errors and
failures temper technology's progress in aviation.
Safety comes with a lot of testing and by taking one step at
a time. CPDLC (controller-pilot data link communications) is a
good example. At 50-some airports, pilots of properly equipped
Part 25 aircraft can accept an ATC predeparture clearance text
message and feed it directly into the flight management system.
Expanding this capability to all general aviation aircraft is
possible, but Kauffman doesn't see mass adoption of it in the near
future because of expensive regulatory hurdles "that will likely
prevent wide adoption in Part 23 due to the lack of mandates."
Instead of this long jump to Part 23, CPDLC's next step is
into the en route structure. "The initial en route trials were
with Kansas City Center," said Stone, and Garmin has a couple
of airplanes involved in them. "Depending on how the trials
come out, the FAA will be looking at rolling out this capability
throughout the en route structure in CONUS (continental
United States) later this year. Integrated flight decks are wellpositioned to take advantage of this. We think it could find its
way into (Part 23 aircraft), provided it works." q

Our STC is FAA
approved for
Transponder/GPS
Pairing on many
Part 25/Part 23
aircraft.
Full ADS-B STC
Compliance Kits
Also Available
Our kit includes:
Dual Garmin
GTX-3000 Transponders
Garmin GDL-88
SBAS/SAAS GPS
or
Universal Avionics
SBAS/WASS FMS GPS
Garmin Flight
Stream 110/210
Astra 1125. 1125SP &
1125SPX
Beechjet 400 & 400A
Challenger Series
Citation Series
Embraer Series
Falcon Series
Gulfstream G-159,
G-1159, G-1159A,
G-1159B, GIV, GIV-SP
Hawker Series
Learjet Series
Nextant Series

Piaggio Avanti Series
Kingair Series
Swearingen Merlin
series
Mitsubishi MU-2
Series
Pilatus PC-12 Series
Saab 340
ATR Classic
Dash-8
Beech 1900D
EMB-120
Metro

Contact Our
ADS-B Team Today!
+1 207 217 6050 | ADSB@cla.aero

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avionics news

may

2019

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Avionics News May 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News May 2019