For U.S. Part 91 business jet operators that fly to Europe, the upcoming Future Air Navigation System (Fans) mandate means not only new operational procedures but also yet another letter of authorization (LOA) requirement from the FAA. Fans and controller pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) are essentially functions that will be baked into the flight management system (FMS), yet each operator’s implementation of procedures, training and a maintenance program for Fans/CPDLC will need a formal stamp of approval from a local FAA office.
Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast
May 2, 2012 - 3:35am
The Namibia Wam system was supplied by Era, of the Czech Republic, and employs 36 widely separated and unmanned ground stations that listen for aircraft transponder replies to radar interrogations and then retransmit those replies to a central processing station. In Namibia, which has no radar, selected listening posts transmit pseudo, but otherwise identical, radar interrogations.
May 2, 2012 - 1:50am
It’s clear that the final release of the FAA’s Authorization Act has given a new fillip to the agency’s NextGen implementation activity. The 2012 Plan, released in March, has a much more upbeat flavor than its 2011 predecessor, which essentially looked backwards at accomplishments in 2010, when most activities were still in their early stages. Back then, the potential future benefits of NextGen were just that–potential.
May 1, 2012 - 4:40am
Just because there’s no FAA regulation requiring Part 91 operators to complete an official international training program before they blast off to other parts of the planet doesn’t mean skipping such a program is a good idea, even if it is legal.
April 12, 2012 - 3:38pm
NavWorx added Wi-Fi support to its line of ADS-B receivers and Universal Access Transceivers (UAT), enabling the exchange of data wirelessly with portable and panel-mounted display devices such as Garmin avionics and the Apple iPad. Its Wi-Fi-enabled WxBox can also receive free broadcast weather from a nationwide network of ADS-B stations. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi allows its ADS600-B UAT to wirelessly transmit ADS-B/TIS-B traffic and FIS-B weather and flight information to devices.
April 5, 2012 - 3:10pm
Among the new products announced yesterday at the 55th Aircraft Electronics Association Annual Convention in Washington, D.C., were more new ways to hook Apple iPads to cockpit electronics. Aspen Avionics is nearing certification of its Connected Panel iPad interface, now due by July.
March 29, 2012 - 1:12pm
Sporty’s Pilot Shop introduced a wire-free weather receiver for the iPad. Called Stratus, it combines an ADS-B and GPS receiver into a single unit that wirelessly streams Nexrad radar, text weather, TFRs and aircraft position to the ForeFlight Mobile app for iOS devices. The Wi-Fi connection allows multiple iPads to connect to Stratus, making it possible for two-pilot crews to view weather on separate iPads. There are no monthly subscription fees for the weather information, according to Sporty’s. Stratus costs $799.
March 26, 2012 - 9:43am
The FAA’s $550 million system-wide information management (Swim) program to fashion a unified information management system from the various flight data, weather and advisory systems used in the National Airspace System calls to mind a hub-and-spoke computer network exchanging digital signals with the big iron in the sky.
March 22, 2012 - 3:54pm
Hilton Software has released a major update to its WingX Pro iPad moving-map software. Some of the improvements to WingX Pro version 6.2 include adding local and national Nexrad weather radar to ADS-B capability (available using the separate SkyRadar ADS-B unit), the ability to switch moving-map GPS information and airspace notifications on and off, adding a favorites function to the moving-map search and an improved timer function on the moving map.
March 9, 2012 - 4:00pm
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) said it has demonstrated an early prototype of its “due regard” radar for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on a manned surrogate aircraft, joining other efforts to develop airborne “sense-and-avoid” systems that could help introduce UAS into unrestricted airspace.
