Engineering and completions company Flying Colours has delivered its first Bombardier Challenger 605 business jet to be upgraded with an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast – out (ADS-B Out) system.
The handover in October to an unnamed customer followed hot-on-the-heels of US supplemental type certification for the system, which covers the Challenger 600-series of large-cabin twinjets. European and Canadian approvals are also expected before the end of the year, says the Peterborough, Ontario-headquartered company.
ADS-B Out is designed to improve air traffic management, by enabling aircraft to continuously transmit highly accurate position and status information to air traffic control. This supplements, and in some cases replaces, traditional ground-based radar systems.
Under US Federal Aviation Administration regulations, ADS-B Out will be mandatory from 2020 for all aircraft that fly in airspace that currently requires a Mode C transponder.
The European Aviation Safety Agency requires all aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of more than 5,700kg (12,500lb) or a maximum cruise speed of more than 250kt (460km/h) to be ADS-B Out compliant by 7 December 2017.
Flying Colours says it is poised to begin work on a similar supplemental type certification activity for the super-midsize Challenger 300, and is also planning other ADS-B Out modifications.
Source: Flight International
