Stratus ES lands certification

The new Stratus ES is a 1090-MHz extended squitter (1090ES) ADS-B Out transponder that does not include an integral WAAS GPS receiver like its predecessor, the Stratus ESG. Both share the common 1.65-inch height to facilitate easy replacement of legacy transponders in existing panels.

Stratus ES was designed without GPS to offer affordable ADS-B Out for aircraft already equipped with WAAS GPS navigators that meet ADS-B rule requirements. The Stratus ES will make an aircraft rule-compliant when paired with a Garmin GNS 430W, GNS 530W, GTN 650, or GTN 750—or Avidyne IFD440 or IFD540—navigator. Appareo announced the Stratus ES at EAA AirVenture 2017 in July.

“With Stratus ESG, we were focused on developing a simple solution to minimize installation costs for non-glass-panel aircraft that didn’t have WAAS GPS,” said Derek Aslakson, Appareo aviation product manager. “With Stratus ES, we are responding to demand from aircraft owners who have already equipped with WAAS GPS navigators and are looking for an affordable way to meet the 2020 mandate while utilizing their previous investments. Stratus ES meets that demand with one of the most attractive price tags on the market.”

Appareo said the Stratus ES—with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $2,495, which is $500 less than the GPS-equipped ESG—is in stock and shipping. Operation of the Stratus ES is the same as the Stratus ESG.

And like the Stratus ESG, the Stratus ES can be connected to an ADS-B In receiver to provide an aircraft owner with the complete ADS-B experience. The Stratus ESi, priced at $2,995, adds an uncertified Stratus 2i ADS-B In receiver that works with the ES transponder and must be connected to it; it allows ADS-B In data to be displayed wirelessly through the ForeFlight Mobile app on an Apple iPad and also provides backup attitude heading reference system (AHRS) capability.

Stratus ADS-B receivers provide subscription-free ADS-B weather and traffic information, and their built-in AHRS technology drives a very responsive pitch and bank instrument in ForeFlight Mobile’s synthetic vision view. Synthetic vision provides luminous terrain, a night sky view, and a brilliant obstacle awareness system that offer an excellent backup for emergency situations. By including a Stratus ADS-B In receiver, pilots also benefit from features such as Stratus Replay, where the device stores weather information even when your iPad is asleep, and the built-in Stratus Flight Data Recorder.

Stratus ES includes Appareo’s patented Portable Connect ADS-B antenna-feedthrough technology, which allows Stratus transponders to share an aircraft’s external ADS-B antenna with a portable receiver in the cockpit, providing enhanced reception. This antenna sharing allows a portable receiver to pick up more ADS-B ground stations, even at lower altitudes, and the portable receiver no longer needs to be located near a window. The Portable Connect feature is compatible with many popular brands of ADS-B receivers; a variety of interface kits are available.