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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 tracking, planning and dispatch. An FAA video
clip showing ADS-B operations in the Gulf of Mexico
is available here.
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 (USA only). The FAA would like to see
aircraft that operate below 18,000’ use the
978 MHz link since this will help alleviate further
congestion of the 1090 MHz frequency.
To obtain ADS-B capability at 1090 MHz, 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:
- ACSS
- Trig TT31 and TT21 Families
- Collins TDR-94D
- Garmin GTX 330 ES
The 978 MHz datalink is encouraged
for aircraft operations below 18,000 ft (above 18,000'
1090 MHz is required), and for light aircraft it offers
several advantages:
- Ease of install. The 978 MHz radio can be installed
alongside your existing transponder and in many
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 ADS-B compatible 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:
- Uncertified but compliant ASB-B Transmitter and
transceiver (upgradeable to “certified”
if required) with optional integral GPS receiver.
This may be acceptable as an approved ADS-B source
for experimental or LSA category aircraft.
- Certified, airborne ADS-B Out (transmit only).
This is our lowest cost option to assure ADS-B compliance
in certified aircraft.
- 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.
- The certified products all integrate
seamlessly with the FreeFlight 1201
and 1203 GPS WAAS Sensors.
- In addition, we are offering the same devices
with an integral TSO-C145 GPS receiver for those
installations that prefer this option.
- 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.
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