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ADS-B is replacing radar as the
primary surveillance method for air traffic control
worldwide. In the USA, the system can also provide
traffic and government generated graphical weather
information. FreeFlight systems has developed a family
of certified ADS-B retrofit
solutions that meet or exceed the performance
requirements of ADS-B in all continents. As with all
FreeFlight offerings, this performance comes with
well designed installation packages, architectural
flexibility and affordability. ADS-B offers enhanced
safety since you are visible realtime to ATC and to
other appropriately equipped ADS-B aircraft with precise
position and velocity data. ADS-B data can be recorded
and used for post flight debrief and training and
for incident analysis. ADS-B also provides the data
infrastructure for inexpensive flight planning and
dispatch.
ADS-B relies on two avionics components
- a high integrity GPS navigation source and a datalink.
As the first company to certify a GPS airborne sensor
with Space Based Augmentation System (SBAS), FreeFlight
Systems is well qualified to deliver the position
source. We have now developed a range of ADS-B datalink
products to complete the system. We have also ensured
that our position sensors and datalinks are compatible
with our competitors products which you may have already
installed in your aircraft. This means that you may
not need to duplicate or replace existing systems.
We have solutions for large and small fixed wing aircraft
and rotorcraft. Use our ADS-B
Options Matrix to help decide which solution best
fits your situation.
GPS Position Sources
Our family of TSO-C145
GPS/SBAS sensors all meet the most rigorous standards
(actual and proposed) for an ADS-B high integrity
position source. The low cost 1201
is designed for light aircraft and provides GPS data
via an RS-232 interface.
The more robust 1203 is
designed for larger aircraft and provides data via
an industry standard ARINC 429 bus. This data is provided
in the universally accepted ARINC 743 standard making
this unit compatible with most ADS-B capable transponders.
The middle-of-the-range 1204
is designed for the VLJ market and uses an RS-422
interface which allows for more flexibility in cabling.
ADS-B Datalinks
There are several types of certified
ADS-B data links, but the most common ones operate
at 1090 MHz, essentially a modified Mode S transponder,
or at 978 MHz in certain air spaces of the USA. To
obtain ADS-B capability you may wish to install a
new transponder or modify an existing one if the manufacturer
offers an ADS-B upgrade. Either option is a good one,
and all you'll need to add is a certified GPS. Our
GPS integrates with most of the available transponders.
Compatible transponders include:
- Becker BXP 62xx series
- Trig TT31 and TT21
- Collins TDR-94D
- Garmin GTX 330 ES
The 978 MHz datalink is allowed
for aircraft operations below 18,000 ft, and for light
aircraft it offers several advantages:
- Ease of install. The 978 MHz radio can be installed
alongside your existing transponder and in most
cases can use the existing transponder antenna .
- Free weather. If your data radio incorporates
a receiver (optional with the FreeFlight Systems
product), you can receive free data services, including
free graphical weather, which can be displayed on
an MFD or a class II Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).
The FAA does not provide this service on the 1090
MHz “Mode S” datalink.
- Free traffic. With the same radio you can receive
ADS-B traffic service that can be displayed on an
MFD or a class III EFB. The FAA does provide this
service on the 1090 MHz “Mode S” datalink
but only the more expensive transponders can receive
the data.
- Beacons. FreeFlight Systems offers a battery
powered 978 MHz beacon that can be used to transmit
ground locations (hazards, safe areas or “come
here”) to a 978 MHz ADS-B equipped aircraft.
- Low Cost. The price of the 978 MHz data radio
is intrinsically low. Installation costs are low
also. Combined with the benefit associated with
the free data services the 978 MHz system is often
“best value”.
FreeFlight Systems offers 978
MHz ADS-B radios in four configurations:
- Certified, airborne ADS-B Out (transmit only).
This is our lowest cost option to achieve ADS-B
compliance .
- Certified, airborne ADS-B Out and In (transceiver).
Slightly higher priced, this unit offers reception
of traffic and weather data .
- Uncertified airborne receiver (ADS-B In only).
This unit can receive the government supplied weather
and traffic data but does not make the aircraft
ADS-B compliant. It is unlikely that the FAA will
allow an uncertified receiver to be used to generate
a traffic display.
- Uncertified ground beacon. A unit with integrated
GPS that transmits a location / ident that can be
received by a 978 MHz ADS-B equipped aircraft.
The certified products all integrate
seamlessly with the FreeFlight 1201
GPS sensor.
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