Aspen Avionics and L-3 Aviation Products announced July 21 at EAA AirVenture an integrated system that combines Aspen primary and multifunction displays with L-3’s Lynx NGT-9000 MultiLink Surveillance System.
Through the integration, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast weather and traffic data from the Lynx NGT-9000 may be shown in the Aspen primary and multifuction displays. The agreement extends to joint sales and service support for customers, the companies said.
NextGen GA Fund bundles Aspen, L-3 products
Aspen and L-3 products will be included in the NextGen GA Fund’s new Jumpstart GA-In program, Aspen announced at EAA AirVenture.
The program is the second in a series of efforts to help ease the financial burden of ADS-B equipage for general aviation. Aircraft owners can achieve compliance with the FAA’s Jan. 1, 2020, ADS-B Out mandate and simultaneously realize the benefits of receiving subscription-free ADS-B traffic and weather using Aspen displays bundled with L-3’s Lynx NGT-2500 ADS-B transceiver.
Three prepackaged options are being offered, combining either the Evolution VFR primary flight display, Evolution Pro 1000 PFD, or the Evolution 1500 system (an Evolution Pro 1000 PFD and an MFD 500 multifunction display) bundled with L-3's Lynx NGT 2500. Each package includes an antenna, if required, and a $2,000 installation labor credit. The packages can be financed for a cost of less than $300 per month.
“There have been a lot of conversations and opinions about how the general aviation community will be able to affordably comply with the January 2020 mandate,” Uczekaj said. “This program cleanly addresses the general aviation community’s concerns from both a compliance and financial standpoint. The best part about this program is that general aviation aircraft owners can now affordably upgrade their panels, increase their aircraft value, and take advantage of the safety-enhancing benefits that ADS-B In and a glass cockpit offer.”
He said the NextGen GA fund product bundles will be offered for a limited time and must be installed by an FAA-certified repair station. Orders can be placed through the NextGen GA Fund or through an authorized Aspen dealer.
“Aspen and L-3 share a common philosophy; we firmly believe that open systems create more opportunities for collaboration,” said John Uczekaj, Aspen president and CEO. “When avionics manufacturers work together, it creates a culture of innovation where the outcome can benefit the entire general aviation community—not only by making avionics more affordable, but also from the viewpoint of improving overall general aviation safety.”
“Aspen is exactly the type of forward-looking company we enjoy partnering with,” said Larry Riddle, L-3 Aviation Products vice president of marketing and sales for business, regional, and general aviation. “What they are doing for cockpit display technology is what Lynx is doing for ADS-B technology. The entire community benefits when avionics manufacturers work together to bring integrated and affordable technologies to the cockpit.”
Their collaboration seeks to offer affordable packaged bundles that include Aspen displays and L-3’s Lynx NGT-9000 transponder.
Packages and pricing include the EFD1000 Pro Plus primary flight display, with synthetic vision and AOA, with the NGT-9000 for $20,795, representing a $1,695 savings, and the Aspen Evolution 1500 system with a Pro Plus PFD with synthetic vision and AOA, a MFD 500 multifunction display, and the NGT-9000 for $24,655, a savings of $3,875.
The Lynx NGT-9000 is a Mode S extended squitter transponder with integrated touchscreen display and an internal WAAS GPS that ports ADS-B traffic and weather data to the Aspen Evolution displays through an RS-232 interface. While the Lynx NGT-9000 displays this data on its own touchscreen display, pilots now have several options to arrange data on the larger Aspen PFD or MFDs.
The system’s capabilities include a dual-mode 1090ES transponder with ADS-B Out, plus 1090ES and 978UAT ADS-B In and an integral WAAS GPS receiver that complies with the FAA’s 2020 mandate for ADS-B Out. This allows both systems to display subscription-free ADS-B graphical weather; ADS-B traffic, including ADS-R and TIS-B; and TAS traffic from non-ADS-B equipped aircraft with the NGT-9000+ model and embedded NextGen Active Traffic feature. Options include active traffic, antenna diversity, and Wi-Fi connectivity to Apple and Android tablets.
Uczekaj is excited about the partnership, citing it and other recent developments as examples of the benefits of opening systems between the products of different manufacturers. "Open systems give our customers choices," and more competition will mean lower prices, he said. "This is what will keep our industry healthy, and bring innovation to the marketplace."
L-3 said the Lynx NGT-9000 is the world’s first FAA-certified touchscreen 1090ES transponder that also is a display for ADS-B In data, including traffic, textual and Nexrad graphical weather, and moving maps. Up-to-the-minute notams, temporary flight restrictions, and winds and temperatures aloft are also provided. L-3 announced at AirVenture that the Lynx NGT-9000 had been approved for a large number of aircraft.
The Lynx touchscreen can be simulated on iPad and Android tablets with a free app; visit the website for information.
Demonstrations of the integrated display system are available at AirVenture in Aspen’s booth (Hangar B, booth 2145), as well as at L-3’s exhibit (Hangar C, booth 3109). The integrated system will be available for purchase in September 2015
