WACO, Texas — FreeFlight Systems reports that Ezell Avionics of Breckenridge, Texas, has completed installation and gained the first FAA field approval certification for the RANGR FDL-978-TX and 1201 WAAS/GPS ADS-B Out system in a PA-24-260 Piper Comanche.
The installation and first field approval gained by Ezell Avionics is representative of the ongoing expansion of certifications of FreeFlight Systems RANGR ADS-B systems, according to FreeFlight officials. Ezell Avionics plans installations of RANGR systems in other aircraft, including a Cessna 182 and a Beechcraft Baron.
The installation retained nearly all of the aircraft’s existing avionics, including two Garmin and Honeywell Mode C transponders, a TCAD traffic system and a MX20 multifunction display (MFD). Ezell is planning to upgrade the FDL-978-TX ADS-B Out system to a fully two-way RANGR FDL-978-XVR transceiver system that can display FIS-B weather and TIS-B traffic data on the PA-24’s MFD.
FreeFlight Systems is teaming with avionics shops such as Ezell to build a knowledge base of information about ADS-B installations in a diverse range of aircraft and installed avionics in the U.S. general aviation fleet. The experiences gained are expected to help speed the modernization of GA for the NextGen airspace system prior to the Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B equipage deadline, company officials note.
“The retrofit installation and configuration of the RANGR ADS-B Out system was fairly straightforward,” said Ezell Avionics Manager Bobby Faulks. “The design and remote mounting of the RANGR and 1201 WAAS GPS systems makes them easy to install and gives us an idea of what to expect in other aircraft types. The customer did not have to purchase all new avionics and is now flying a Comanche that’s fully compliant with the ADS-B requirement. We’re already planning for the ADS-B In weather and traffic upgrade for the Comanche and installations in other aircraft.”
“We congratulate Ezell Avionics for this significant accomplishment and recognize their leadership in driving the field approval process,” said Tim Taylor, CEO of FreeFlight Systems. “Ezell’s experience demonstrates how the RANGR systems are made to easily integrate into a very wide range of aircraft and existing avionics. Ezell is a good model for hundreds of avionics shops large and small across America which will play a pivotal role in equipping more than 200,000 GA aircraft for the NextGen airspace system.”
For more information: FreeFlightSystems.com