NavWorx recently participated in near-space balloon tests with the successful use of its ADS600-B UAT (Universal Access Transceiver) at 95,000 feet.
The tests were designed to validate the application of ADS-B technology on satellite-based delivery stations.
Tests were performed by Near Space Corp. of Tillamook, Ore., with the support of NASA and FAA. The ADS600-B was part of the Transportable Airborne Multi Link ADS-B Coverage Evaluation (TAMLACE) payload package built by CNS Aviation Services.
The NavWorx ADS600-B received FAA certification in July 2013.
The FAA is mandating that all general aviation aircraft operating in U.S. airspace where a transponder is now required will be required to be equipped with ADS-B Out and a certified GPS by 2020.
The ADS600-B is a device that sends (ADS-B Out) aircraft location information and receives (ADS-B In) additional information, including ADS-B, ADS-R and TIS-B traffic and FIS-B weather.
The ADS600-B eliminates the need for a 1090ES transponder, commonly thought of as a solution for the ADS-B Out requirement, say company officials.
The ADS600-B by NavWorx offers all the advantages of ADS-B, including free FIS-B (Flight Information Services-Broadcast) with weather, company officials noted. It is compatible with current Mode A, C or S transponders.
Testing of the ADS-B system at 95,000 feet was designed to simulate satellite equipage with ADS-B in a means similar to ground stations communicating with UAT devices, company officials explain.
The experiment results confirm the potential of ADS-B In/Out for utilization by both stratospheric balloons and suborbital reusable launch vehicles.
One goal was to assess the potential of satellite-based ADS-B applications to perform the functions of multiple ground stations. The tests validated that transmissions can replicate, and in many cases improve, the communications among users of the ADS-B system due to the elimination of line-of-sight restrictions afforded by the 95,000-foot vantage point, officials said.
ADS-B In/Out messages were exchanged with 18 FAA SBS ground stations over the 150 nmi flight path while balloon ADS-B Out was visible to Seattle Air Traffic Controllers.
ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) is the FAA’s satellite-based successor to radar, delivering the benefits of NextGen air transportation technology to general aviation aircraft. ADS-B makes use of GPS technology to determine and share precise aircraft location information, and streams additional flight information to the cockpits of properly equipped aircraft.
For more information: NavWorx.com