uAvionix Corporation has introduced SkyBeacon, which the company claims is the world’s first zero-install ADS-B Out solution meeting the FAA’s 2020 ADS-B mandate.
SkyBeacon combines the LED navigation light technology with an ultra-compact Universal Access Transceiver ADS-B Out solution. With this solution, installation of ADS-B is as simple as changing a lightbulb, according to company officials.
SkyBeacon will be available in the first quarter of 2018 for experimental and light-sport aircraft.
“After a review of multiple aircraft we realized the position lights offered an ideal installation location,” said CTO Jeff Walker. “The SkyBeacon design positions the WAAS GPS near the top of the wing, offering an unobstructed view of the sky, while the UAT antenna remains clear of the airframe and vertically polarized. The mounting location, along with readily available power, help provide an install that is simple, and near zero effort. SkyBeacon addresses the challenges of equipage and offers the type of solution pilots have been demanding. It is affordable, easy to configure, and mounts in minutes. In addition, SkyBeacon will dramatically reduce avionics shop backlog.”
The new patent-pending design of SkyBeacon delivers bolt-on 2020 compliance, he noted.
Remove the current wingtip position light and replace it with the SkyBeacon. The existing wiring and circuit breaker provide power, no airframe modifications or additional antennas are required.
As an added bonus, the upgraded LED position lights deliver increased safety and night visibility at no additional cost, company officials said.
Goof-Proof Configuration
Upon initial power up, the SkyBeacon mobile application will automatically configure the ICAO address, emitter type, aircraft length, width and GPS offsets by accessing the aircraft registration information. The automatic configuration further reduces installation time and the number of misconfigured systems operating in the National Airspace.
Broadcasting on the UAT/978MHz frequency, SkyBeacon offers rule compliant operation up to FL180 within the U.S. An optional matching companion position light will be available to provide ADS-B In capability.
SkyBeacon is pending certification via approved model list (AML) for STC’d installation on hundreds of aircraft makes and models, company officials report.
I have a RV-4 and the surface that my wingtip lights are mounted on slope inward approximately 25-30 degrees. Will that be an issue?
Please update the pilot community on your progress to acquire FAA approval to install skybeacon on certified aircraft such as a Cessna 182? At this point to you have any firmer indication when certification will be achieved?
Please update the pilot community on your progress to acquire FAA approval to install skybeacon on certified aircraft suck as a Cessna 182? At this point to you have any firmer indication when certification will be achieved?
i have 4 pa18 what all is needed to comply with the ads-b out i now have king 76a transponders
cheers jc
Looks great but it doesn’t seem that its configuration will work for my airplane.
I have a Grumman AA1A and the nav lights are faired in to the leading edge of the wing tips covered by a clear lens.
That means the bottom portion of this unit (antenna) will not internally clear the faired in lens.
Does this manufacturer have a solution for this problem?
I have a Mooney M201 J. When can I expect this to be installed?
The lsast I heard they were hoping to get through with all the FAA B.S. and have it approved by early 2018 on an make & model basis. It will be interesting how much more the FAA blessed model will be compared to the one approved for experimentals and LSA aircraft. I still can’t understand if it’s approved for LSA and Experimental aircraft and does the job for them why the FAA has to make the company go through all the certification B.S. for certificated aircraft. The only thing that will happen is it will have TSO on the nameplate and it will probably cost an arm & a leg more to buy.
Is a Mode S Transponder required?
The way I read the description it appears to have that built in, but who knows? The article doesn’t mention it.
“The SkyBeacon design positions the WAAS GPS near the top of the wing, offering an unobstructed view of the sky, while the UAT antenna remains clear of the airframe and vertically polarized.”
The ad for it on iFly’s website says it works with a regular transponder.
Does this unit have the ability to show the light to the pilot so they can see if their light is operational (my Cessna had a similar shaped piece of clear plastic that allowed me to visually confirm that my lights were indeed working)? If not it would seem like a very easy additional feature to add.
One unanswered question. FAA requires ADS-B out Altitude to come from the same source as for the existing Mode C transponder. I would guess this unit ” sniffs” that data from the Mode C transmission and uses it.
Will this system work on a Skybolt? My position lights are on the bottom wing.
Does anybody know what this will cost?
The uAvionix website has no pricing info
EAA very recently got one of those “magic screens”(I don’t know what it is called, but it has all the flight info and all on a screen instead of the old round gauges). This was a non-TSO’d unit that was being used in Experimental Aircraft. I sent EAA an email this morning suggesting that this might be a good unit to try to get an STC on. Maybe if enough people do it, it will come to pass.
Look I have a lot of planes that fly only a few times a year ,WHY not for use on certified aircraft Ike a Cessna 182 or a Piper Aztec . If it keeps an airliner away from a experiment aircraft it for sure do the same for say some Cessna.
Remember the unit has to meet the requirements required ,,,this is that FAA screwed up paper work requirement that leaves us to very expensive and time consuming options that in the very end do exactly what was required in the first place . I’m tired of hearing the why nots instead of the how’s
Let’em start with expérimentals and LSA and UAT and if they are a good company, they will end up available for any aircraft and include ES
The problem is that it will only be available for Experimental & Light Sport aircraft. Why, if it meets the performance mandate for ADS-B out, can’t it be mounted on a type certificated aircraft that is used entirely for recreational purposes. I know, the Bureaucracy will say because it isn’t TSO’d. The FAA is suposed to be PROMOTING aviation, but it doesn’t seem that way to me.
If you look at the last line of the article you will see they are pursuing getting an STC for this system which will make it available to most factory built certified aircraft as well in the hopefully near future.
Game. Changer. Great idea and implementation!
This would be heaven sent and makes a ton of sense. As a owner of some older planes that fly very infrequent this could be savor .