GPS World

Tag: U.S. Federal Aviation Administration

  • Collins Aerospace Bombardier upgrade given FAA certification

    Photo: Collins Aerospace
    Photo: Collins Aerospace

    Features include enhanced ADS-B, SBAS and georeferenced charts.

    Collins Aerospace’s Pro Line Fusion avionics upgrade for Pro Line 4-equipped Bombardier Challenger 604 series aircraft has been certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

    Working closely with Bombardier as the original aircraft manufacturer and Nextant Aerospace as the installation design certification lead, this sole all-in-one solution complies with pending mandates while modernizing the flight experience for pilots.

    The Pro Line Fusion upgrade enhances the operational capabilities of the Challenger 604 aircraft to a similar level as that of the Challenger 605 and Challenger 650 jets equipped with Collins Pro Line 21 Advanced, while providing Challenger 604 operators with a solution to meet future regulatory requirements.

    Among these enhancements, the upgrade replaces the factory-installed CRT displays with three 14.1-inch widescreen LCD displays with configurable windows. Features designed to improve situational awareness and reduce pilot workload for Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft owners include:

    • A fully loaded package of baseline equipment for operation in modernizing global airspace — beyond ADS-B mandate compliance, offering SBAS-capable GNSS, localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches, radius-to-fix (RF) legs and more
    • Geo-referenced electronic navigation charts that display own-ship aircraft position
    • Synthetic vision as a standard feature
    • Optional FANS 1/A technology providing more preferred, wind efficient transatlantic routing

    The Challenger 604 Pro Line Fusion retrofit solution, which is already available for several Beechcraft King Air and Cessna Citation CJ aircraft, is part of our ongoing effort to provide owners with modern technology, enhanced situational awareness and compliance with airspace mandates,” said Christophe Blanc, vice president and general manager, business and regional systems for Collins Aerospace. “The Challenger 604 business jet is a highly-valued, long-haul aircraft that will be able to continue flying well into the future with this upgrade.”

    The upgrade is available exclusively throughout Bombardier’s extensive network of service centers and Nextant Aerospace.

  • Iridium asks FCC to remove ‘outdated’ rules

    Iridium asks FCC to remove ‘outdated’ rules

    Iridium logo

    Iridium Satellite Communications Inc. filed comments to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Oct. 29 regarding outdated Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC) rules.

    The company, operator of the Iridium satellite constellation — 66 low-Earth orbit satellites used for global voice and data communication from handheld satellite phones and other transceiver units — called for the rules to be removed by the FCC and replaced by new rules that better serve the spectrum ecosystem.

    “Fifteen years ago, the FCC had a vision of satellite companies integrating terrestrial service into their core satellite business as a supplemental service. This vision has been never been successfully achieved — not once,” said Iridium spokesperson Jordan Hassin. “Instead, the result has been a constant whittling away at the rules to the point they have become irrelevant with a whole lot of collateral damage along the way. Given this history, it is appropriate for the FCC to consider the elimination of these outdated ATC rules while taking into account the realities of existing services and users.”

    “ATC is an outdated concept that never developed as intended,” Rob McDowell, former commissioner of the FCC added.

    The rules have resulted in proposals to get around them, such as Ligado, and significant fights over harmful spectrum interference to incumbent satellite systems. Ligado has sought to waive three gating criteria established by the FCC.

  • FAA process 50,000+ LAANC applications for UAVs

    FAA process 50,000+ LAANC applications for UAVs

    Photo: iStock.com/valio 84sl, via FAA
    Photo: iStock.com/valio 84sl, via FAA

    The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) nationwide deployment of the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) has exceeded all of the program’s original objectives.

    Since the program began with a prototype system in November 2017, LAANC has processed more than 50,000 applications from drone operators for authorization to fly in controlled airspace. The system now covers almost 300 air traffic facilities serving approximately 500 airports, providing near-instantaneous approvals and allowing operators to quickly plan their flights. View a list of the participating facilities.

    LAANC helps support the safe integration of drones into the nation’s airspace. The system uses airspace data provided through temporary flight restrictions, Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) facility maps that show the maximum altitude ceiling around airports where the FAA may authorize operations under Part 107, the small drone rule for commercial and public agency operators.

    LAANC Service Suppliers

    The FAA has approved 14 LAANC service suppliers. Instructions on how to apply are provided by each supplier:

    Aeronyde
    Airbus
    AirMap
    AiRXOS
    Altitude Angel
    Converge
    DJI
    Harris Corporation
    Kittyhawk
    Project Wing (X, The Moonshot Factory)
    Skyward
    Thales Group
    UASidekick
    Unifly

    Drone operators also can file for airspace authorizations using the FAA DroneZone, including for areas not covered by LAANC or when the operator holds a Part 107 waiver.

  • FAA adds two more webinars on new pilot program

    The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is hosting two more webinars to discuss its Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Integration Pilot Program.

    Each webinar provides an overview of the program, the application process, and the specific criteria and deadlines that companies and research groups will be required to meet. Registration is required; only register for one session as they cover the same content.

    • Tuesday, Nov. 21, 12–1:15 p.m. EST
    • Monday, Nov. 27, 12–1:15 p.m. EST

    The pilot program was launched Nov. 2 to foster innovation and advances the integration of UAS into United States’ airspace to ensure U.S. global leadership in the emerging UAS industry.

    “There’s already been tremendous interest in the program and more than 4300 people registered to attend our online webinars to learn how they can participate,” the FAA UAS Integration Office said in a statement. “It’s facilitating partnerships between state, local, and tribal government entities and private industry to gather operational and other data from advanced operational concepts, such as flights over people and package delivery. The results from the program will help to inform the development of future enabling regulations that will expand safe UAS operations and help to transition many of the new and novel operational concepts that we manage today by exception into routine, commonplace aspects of our everyday lives.”

    Details about applying, timelines, and requirements are at FAA.gov/Go/DronePilot. Those interested can also subscribe to receive email updates from the FAA’s UAS webpage.