General aviation’s alphabet groups are urging the FAA to address barriers to ADS-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast) equipage, including high cost and lack of certified solutions for some types of aircraft. In a joint letter sent to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta on Jan. 23, general aviation groups representing tens of thousands of aircraft owners asked the […]
ADS-B
FAA grants rare field approval for ADS-B add to King Air
FreeFlight Systems reports that Hawker Beechcraft Services-Tampa has integrated an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) compliant suite of FreeFlight avionics for the King Air 200. Hawker Beechcraft Services-Tampa received approval for the King Air 200 avionics package via FAA Field Approval application of FreeFlight Systems’ existing Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the King Air C90A aircraft, company […]
Making sure homebuilts are not forgotten in ADS-B mandate
Officials at the Experimental Aircraft Association report they are in ongoing discussions with the FAA to ensure that experimental amateur-built owners are not forgotten as the FAA looks toward the Jan. 1, 2020 mandate for equipping aircraft with ADS-B avionics. Historically, builders and owners of experimental aircraft have been able to install avionics that meet the performance […]
Is the ADS-B glass half full?
In a new post, AirFacts blogger John Zimmerman notes that over the past 25 years, pilots have complained about three different transponder rules: Mode C, Mode S and now ADS-B. Is the FAA really this incompetent, or do pilots just like to gripe? As usual, the answer is a little bit of both, he says, […]
Can you ignore the ADS-B 2020 mandate?
The Jan. 1, 2020 ADS-B mandate has a lot of aircraft owners wringing their hands and seeing red. For those of us at the recreational end of the aviating spectrum (which represents a great many aircraft), plunking down the money it’ll take to equip our aircraft to meet the mandate is not something we care […]
GA challenges benefits of ADS-B
WASHINGTON, D.C. — An FAA-sponsored “call to action” summit to encourage the aviation industry to equip to meet the Jan. 1, 2020, deadline for the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) brought general aviation advocates out in force, with one message: The costs outweigh the benefits for GA pilots. Sean Elliott, the Experimental Aircraft Association […]
Survey shows GA pilots value ADS-B traffic and weather
Results from an online survey indicate that general aviation pilots value ADS-B In traffic and weather services as a tool to increase situational awareness, decision-making capability, and general safety of flight. According to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 1,407 pilots responded to the survey, including many readers of General Aviation News. Of those responding, […]
FreeFlight introduces FTX-200 ADS-B system
FreeFlight Systems has introduced the FTX-200 1090ES Transponder with integrated GPS system for business aircraft. The TCAS I-compatible system is a cost-effective alternative to expensive avionics upgrades for NextGen ADS-B Out compliance, according to officials with the Waco, Texas-based company. The FTX-200 is designed for business jet operators who do not require diversity mode but need […]
FAA calls on aviation industry to equip for NextGen
WASHINGTON, DC – The FAA will hold a “Call to Action” summit to engage the aviation industry in meeting the Jan. 1, 2020 deadline to equip aircraft with new avionics technology. The all-day session will be held Oct. 28. The FAA and the aviation industry will discuss how they can work together to resolve barriers […]