Professional Pilot, January 2016

AVIONICS UPGRADES NextGen spurs panel modernization Manufacturers offer upgrades to comply with new rules and save operators from flightdeck obsolescence A vionics equipment elements for NextGen operations are well defined in North America and the rest of the world For pilots and operators of business aviation aircraft the ability to both operate and benefit from these airspace modernization efforts requires new avionics equipage covering 4 main elements Surveillance communication navigation and situational awareness Most new aircraft are now rolling out factory equipped to meet the demands of the NextGen air traffic environment Operators of older aircraft must now determine what NextGen equipment is available and or mandatory for their operations Not all NextGen avionics features are mandatory but FAA and other air traffic service organizations have adopted a best equipped best served strategy to push operators wanting that best served handling by ATC when they go to fly Fortunately a number of avionics manufacturers have created retrofit and upgrade programs to satisfy NextGen requirements Often this 76 PROFESSIONAL PILOT January 2016 equipment goes well beyond the mandates with additional features that increase the value to the operators by not only increasing accessibility to airspace but also enhancing flight safety and efficiencies Lets look at the basics of each of the 4 main elements of NextGen 1 Surveillance The basis of a Next Gen system is the ability for aircraft to transmit accurate positions to other aircraft and ground stations Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast ADS B Out is the equipment that broadcasts the aircraft position altitude identity and other information to the outside world including other equipped aircraft and ground facilities Another element is ADS C for Contract which allows aircraft and ground stations to electronically handshake and share information via satcom 2 Communications NextGen communications rely on datalink as opposed to VHF UHF or satellite voice communications Also known as controller pilot datalink communications CPDLC these communications are accomplished via text like messaging Future air navigation FANS is part of NextGen communications using CPDLC and ADS C FANS was initially rolled out in oceanic airspace but variations of this technology are now used domestically An example is Data Comm where datalink communications are used to get ATC clearances at airports such as EWR Newark NJ and MEM Memphis TN 3 Navigation Key to NextGen is the ability to increase airspace capacity by allowing aircraft to fly more precise routings This is achieved by employing airborne navigation equipment with high levels of required navigation performance RNP RNP has onboard monitoring and alerting functions that notify the flightcrew if stringent navigation performance is not met NextGen navigation is very precise uses RNP or performance based navigation PBN and requires fewer track miles which saves both time and fuel 4 Situational awareness ADS B In which is optional for aircraft installation allows flightcrews to receive information from aircraft equipped with ADS B To optimize ADS B By Stuart Lau ATP FE CFII Airbus A300 600 Boeing 747 747 400 757 767 CRJ and Saab 340 Garmin G1000 upgrades for the Beechcraft King Air have proven to be very popular with over 400 installations to date The system replaces a number of analog flight instruments and engine indicators with a clean digital panel