The Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) has recommended to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that there should not be an ADS-B “In” mandate at this time.  This recommendation does not affect the existing ADS-B “Out” mandate and equipage rules

As part of this committee, FreeFlight heartily endorses this recommendation. In short, it will mean easier installation of ADS-B in most situations. Consider these two reasons the ARC rule is good for the industry:

1. For most of the general aviation population, ADS-B “In” comprises advisory traffic, weather and other important flight information. This information is being provided today as part of the base ADS-B program. Put simply, we do not need a rule concerning equipage for these aviators. In fact, a rule will make it harder to get advisory information in front of pilots. Under the current framework, an aircraft equipped to meet the ADS-B “Out” rule is eligible for these free services, giving users some flexibility in how the data is displayed. This strategy is working fine, and a rule would simply increase cost and complexity.
2. For larger aircraft, ADS-B “In” is a more complex item that addresses traffic separation and other critical safety issues. For these applications, a rule is going to be necessary. Work is currently underway to define such systems, without interfering with the immediate benefits to general aviation.

The FAA chartered the ARC in 2010 as a forum for the aviation community, where a strategy would be defined to incorporate ADS-B “In” technologies into air traffic control systems. ARC includes about two dozen representatives from aviation user groups, companies and government agencies.

At the end of September, ARC’s initial recommendations were published, but they were just released this month. The recommendations said:

“The ARC supports ADS–B as the primary mechanism to provide future surveillance for ATC in the NAS  … the ARC finds, based on the current maturity of ADS–B In applications and uncertainties regarding the achievable benefits, there is not a NAS user community business case for near-term ADS–B In equipage.  Therefore, at this time, the ARC does not support an equipage mandate.  The ARC recommends the FAA demonstrate to the satisfaction of the user community that equipage benefits are both achievable and operationally implementable in a cost-effective manner.

“The ARC notes operational demonstrations of ADS–B In applications are in various stages of maturity but the required equipment standards, certification guidance, and operational approval guidance are not sufficiently mature to enable widespread manufacture of avionics and implementation of ADS–B In applications other than those directed toward situational awareness,” the report added.

So what does this all mean? ADS-B “Out” is the FAA’s primary Air Traffic Control technology, and it will be required by rule for most aircraft by 2020. The incentives that the FAA is providing via ADS-B “In” are available today with minimal regulation – exactly as it should be.

Feedback provided by the aviation community in response to those recommendations will be incorporated into an ARC final report due by June 2012.

Passionate.

That one word describes so many of our customers. They are passionate about flying. The time they spend in the air is exhilarating, challenging and relaxing.

This is a subject most pilots would rather avoid. But it’s a fact. The spouses, parents and children of pilots don’t always share their enthusiasm. These family members understand why their most-beloved pilot loves to fly. But there is a lurking fear that someday, something might go wrong.

At FreeFlight, we embrace the air. And our passion is helping to keep our customers safe. That’s one of the reasons we are so enthusiastic about NextGen air traffic control systems, specifically ADS-B.

Right now, too many small aircraft and helicopters that are forced down from flight are left without the immediate help they need. When a small plane or helicopter goes down in a remote area, search-and-rescue efforts may not reach the pilot for hours, days or weeks. A surviving flier or passenger in need of medical attention doesn’t get critical help, and what was an accident turns into a disaster. (In fact, the FAA has never found three planes lost all the way back in 2009.)

Traditional GPS systems provide position data, but not with the frequency needed for successful search-and-rescue efforts. Also, with older systems, position information comes from radar, which is less accurate, has spottier coverage, and in older aircraft provides no altitude data. In contrast, ADS-B is accurate to within three-tenths of a mile and transmits GPS coordinates to the FAA at the rate of one time per second. The higher update rate and better precision of ADS-B provides the FAA with historical location information, as well as a solid capability to predict where a plane landed. This information can be instantly reported to search-and-rescue teams.

Many times, a plane equipped with ADS-B can be pinpointed exactly. And even if that’s not the case, the search radius is relatively small, making quicker rescue a reality.

This possibility should be of particular interest to pilots who fly in the Gulf Coast region. Traditional radar coverage is not available in this area, so when a plane experiences trouble, air traffic controllers have very little information to offer a search-and-rescue team. ADS-B can pinpoint a plane or helicopter in the Gulf region just effectively as it can on land.

ADS-B may be a new technology, but it’s one the FAA has embraced as the next generation of air traffic control. In other words, ADS-B is here to stay. It won’t become obsolete. And if you ever need help after an accident, with ADS-B, neither will you.

The future of air traffic control became reality this week.

FreeFlight’s RANGR FDL-978TX ADS-B, a universal access transmitter, earned TSO authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration.  As a result, pilots can now purchase the first V2 compliant TSO‐C154c UAT Transmitter to comply with the Advisory Circular AC 20‐165.

So what does this mean for pilots and air traffic controllers? This seal of approval from the FAA is a key step in the development of NextGen air traffic control, which will rely on Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) technology. ADS-B is the new, advanced airspace management system currently being implemented worldwide.

ADS-B is replacing radar as the primary surveillance method for air traffic control. In the United States, 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. ADS-B offers enhanced safety, since planes are visible in real-time to air traffic controllers and to other appropriately equipped ADS-B aircraft with precise position and velocity data.

ADS-B relies on two avionics components: a high-integrity GPS navigation source and a datalink.  The resulting data can be recorded and used for post-flight debrief, training and incident analysis. The technology also provides the data infrastructure for inexpensive flight tracking, planning and dispatch.

The RANGR FDL‐978TX will provide air traffic controllers with course, speed, and altitude data continuously. This results in:

• ATC situational awareness
• Expanded radar coverage
• Search and rescue capabilities

Operators in the Gulf Coast will experience the immediate benefits, as there is currently no radar coverage in that area.

The development of the RANGR was no easy task. In fact, it was expected to take much longer and, as a result, the advancement of ADS-B would have taken longer as well. The transceiver received a boost, however, from MITRE technology, which shaved a full two years off of development time.

MITRE Corp. is a not-for-profit organization that provides systems engineering, research and development, and information technology support to government agencies such as the Department of Defense and the FAA. Its more than 7,000 scientists, engineers and support specialists collaborate to solve problems efficiently.

FreeFlight Systems is offering special introductory pricing now through April 2012. In addition, the 978 MHz system (available only in the United States) offers free traffic and weather information.  For more information, visit our website.

While we’ve exhibited at this event many times, this year seems electric. A lot of energy and a welcome traffic jam in the aisles of the exhibit floor.

Today’s lessons learned?

AOPA Day 1, 3 Key Lessons Learned

#1 They Care. Show attendees showed up in droves, and it wasn’t by chance. One of the hottest topics spreading across the show floor is ADS-B. Now that it’s on everybody’s radar (no pun intended), attendees were investigating what vendor offered what, and when. We love the feedback from FreeFlight Systems walk-ups, many of which said that there’s a lot of show-floor buzz regarding the advent of ADS-B, yet many vendors were admitting they really didn’t have a product ready to roll. They also had to admit they had no idea what it’d cost. We couldn’t be happier to share the good news: FreeFlight isn’t just talking, we’re showing, sharing and showcasing the real deal: ADS-B, ready to go at a reasonable price. There’s no feeling like watching a person’s face go from skeptic to someone who “gets it,” and is ready to dig deeper into what they need to do. Our favorite question from attendees, “So, how do I get it?”

#2 Free Sells. It seems like everyone is offering some kind of iPad application that makes life easier for show attendees. There’s certainly no shortage, and there’s a big reason for that. These guys are gobbling up iPad apps like ducks on bread. We showcased an iPad application that delivers free weather and traffic. It was a key traffic driver to the booth. Feedback from attendees: “We know we’re going to need it with the FAA mandates but you are showing us a reason to want it now.” That’s good news!

#3 Proudly Presenting at a Panel. Our leader at FreeFlight Systems, CEO Tim Taylor, was invited to participate in a panel discussion about NextGen now, and in the future. Topics ranged from ADS-B to whether the FAA mandate was relevant to the general aviation community. We’re a bit biased, but Tim’s responses zeroed in on what’s important and why. Our favorite question-and-answer? The panel was asked, “What Does NextGen Mean to You?” Our response? “It’s an irreversible, fundamental transformation of airspace management that adds clarity and transparency. It’s like blue ray vs. VHS – once you have it you cannot go back; It is so much better and it didn’t cost you more than the old stuff.”

By the way, if you’re at AOPA, be sure to stop by the booth (1200). You could actually win a free trip in a Stearman. Plus, we’re having a 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Cocktail Hour. Now that’s fun!

It’s a bi-plane. It’s a two-seater and straight from 1925.

We’re talking the Stearman, designed and created to be a commercial biplane for carrying air mail with room for two paying passengers. First flown on March 13, 1925, the Stearman-designed ship performed so well that orders came in faster than the two a month that they could be built.

Now, attendees at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Summit can buckle up and fly in a classic Stearman if they win a drawing for a free ride in a Stearman, provided courtesy of FreeFlight Systems. Tighten your goggles and get ready for the flight. Start by dropping by FreeFlight’s booth, #1200, between Sept. 22 and 24. The drawing for the Stearman ride will be done at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24. Contestants do not need to be present to win and will be notified via phone or e-mail. For history and perspective on the Stearman, visit this site.

FreeFlight Cocktail Hour

Be sure to come by the booth (#1200) at 5 p.m. Sept. 23 for our cocktail hour. We’d love to meet you.

Test Drive our iPad App with Free Weather and Traffic

We first showcased our Free Weather and Traffic iPad app at OshKosh in July and had an overwhelming response.  This is the perfect solution for pilots who want to take advantage of the FAA service and be a leader in the latest technology.  Stop by our booth and see for yourself the pure joy of real-time maps on a useful and coveted handheld that does so much more than a GPS.

NextGen: What Does It Mean to Me?

Ever wonder what NextGen really means and how NextGen technologies like ADS-B will impact your flight operations in the near and far term? Join AOPA, our CEO  Tim Taylor, and a panel of other NextGen experts who will share what NextGen means for general aviation and how it will impact operations in the national airspace system.

Time, Date & Location: Thursday, Sept. 22, 3:30 p.m.—4:30 p.m., Convention Center, Room 24

…And when the show is over? Then what?

Why fly straight home when Hartford offers some fun? Here’s one event that seemed especially compelling. How about vintage baseball that showcases the game of yesteryear (in an earlier era, even before the days of that Stearman!)? On Sept. 24, a vintage baseball championship is being played at Hartford’s Colt Meadows Park. The game is played as if it was happening during the 1800s. Same uniforms, Same rules. The Sept. 24 game is a championship game.

Enjoy the show!

We’re at  booth #1200. Ridin’ high.

ADS-B Symposium from SEA

FreeFlight Systems participated in an ADS-B symposium hosted by Southeast Aerospace. The symposium was held recently at SEA’s Melbourne, Fla. location. Jamie Luster attended the event.

The symposium featured presentations on ADS-B information, product lines, and ideas. There were five original equipment manufacturers who presented during the three-day event, as well as three presentations given by representatives from the FAA. More than 35 individuals from avionics shops, OEMs, aircraft operators and the FAA attended the symposium.

During the event- which also included an open forum- many different aspects of the ADS-B system and technology were brought up for discussion.

One, more broad, question of interest to the attendees was why an ADS-B system is needed.

The FAA has mandated that all aircraft be compliant with the ADS-B Out mandate by 2020. This is because the current air traffic control system used in the United States is outdated and less effective in tracking, surveillance and other aspects than the ADS-B NextGen system. ADS-B provides a higher level of safety.

Another question that was discussed, was whether the 2020 FAA mandate includes ADS-B In. The answer is that the mandate only covers ADS-B Out. However, with ADS-B In, comes many, many additional advantages, including free traffic and weather. Tim Taylor, FreeFlight Systems president and CEO talks more about the advantages of equipping with ADS-B now in the video found HERE.

Also brought up during the symposium was whether or not an STC is required for an ADS-B system installation. As of 2011, the FAA is requiring that you obtain an STC for ADS-B Out installation on an aircraft. FreeFlight has prepared for this, however.

“We are going to get STCs for ourselves, for our equipment,” said Taylor in a video interview, “and we’ll make those STCs available free of charge.”

Luster says the symposium was successful and provided an open forum for discussion with many different industry professionals.

Have ADS-B or NextGen questions? Drop us a line!

NextGen ADS-B solutions are affordable. That’s the message FreeFlight Systems gave during the AEA International Convention and Trade Show earlier this year.

Jamie Luster, FreeFlight Systems director of sales and marketing, presented during the New Product Introductions at the event. She was later interviewed by Aero-TV.

The Paris Air Show starts tomorrow and NextGen, avionics developments, aircraft news and more are on the agenda. The air show is the longest-standing event in the world dedicated to aerospace.

Since 1909, industry players from around the world have gathered at the site in Paris to showcase the latest advances in aerospace. This year, 2000 international exhibitors, 138,000 trade visitors, 193,00 general public visitors are expected to attend.

The first four days of the show – June 20- 23- are dedicated to the industry, with admission being granted only to trade visitors. The airshow is then opened to the general public for three days – June 24- 26.

Products from avionics suppliers that are NextGen or SESAR compatible are expected to be showcased. SESAR is the European version of NextGen, and stands for Single European Sky ATM Research. Both programs are built on technology such as ADS-B.

ITT Corporation will focus highlighting its ADS-B, Wide-Area Persistent Surveillance (WAPS) system, ALQ-136 and AIDEWS capabilities, among others.

“Our capabilities, proven technologies and reputation to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations have positioned ITT favorably in both the defense and civil aerospace markets. We look forward to strengthening existing relationships and developing new ones during this important global event,” said Dave Melcher, president of ITT Defense & Information Solutions, in a press release.

Expectations for the show are good, says John McHale, executive editor at Military & Aerospace Electronics. He says that although the mood at the Air Show two years ago was “gloomy,” due to the Air France crash over the Atlantic and low numbers of aircraft orders. He’s predicting a much different show this year, with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner expected to be in operation before the year’s end, and strong airplane order announcements.

The event looks to be a strong one for Airbus. According to the Wall Street Journal, Airbus announced deals in India and the Philippines last week, with a catalog value of approximately $10 billion.

“Expect a flurry of news around the revamped version of Airbus’s best-selling A320 single-aisle model, the “new engine option” or A320neo. Several big Airbus customers have already indicated they will be announcing A320neo deals,” reports the story.

Bombardier Aerospace is scheduled to attend the show. “The midsize Learjet 60 XR aircraft, super midsize Challenger 300 jet, ultra long-range Global 6000 jet, Q400 NextGen turboprop airliner and CRJ1000 NextGen regional jet” are scheduled to be on static display at the show.

You can find the complete 2011 Exhibitor’s List HERE.

Why equip with ADS-B now? FreeFlight Systems President and CEO Tim Taylor answers.

You can find more information about ADS-B here, on our blog, as well as at our website, www.freeflightsystems.com.

Source: ITT

The RTCA NextGen Advisory Committee made its most recent recommendations to the FAA after meeting last month in New York.

The U.S. industry and government committee recommended that three capability areas be prioritized in the rolling out of the NextGen Air Transportation System. Those areas all require operators to equip their aircraft with ADS-B, RNP and data communications.

The NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) was created to develop an understanding of  NextGen priorities as the system is rolled out and implemented. The NAC is made up of top-level executives who represent manufacturers, air traffic management, operators, aviation safety, airports and environmental, domestic and international, civil and military.

This cross-discipline committee focuses on implementation issues, prioritization criteria and more. The NAC is chaired by Dave Barger of Jet Blue Airways.

The approach recommended by the committee is for an incremental NextGen deployment, requiring nearly all air carrier and general aviation operators to achieve a minimum capability level. In the process, they would become eligible for operational or financial incentives.

The NAC is recommending the FAA deploy infrastructure and supporting procedures in order to support ADS-B, RNP and data comm regionally. This approach would allow benefits to be seen and reaped in the near term.

According to news story by AINOnline.com, the committee is recommending the following packages to the FAA:

• Package A: All air carrier aircraft would be brought to a baseline of GPS and RNP 0.3 capability minimum, and all GA aircraft be brought to GPS-WAAS-LPV capability.

• Package B: All aircraft would be equipped for ADS-B Out.

• Package C: Equip all aircraft with VDL-2, FANS 1/A+ or ATN Baseline One data communications.

The next full NAC meeting is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2011 in Washington, D.C. The subject of that meeting is scheduled to be consideration of financial or operational incentives to help operators in the adoption of the NextGen system.