Avidyne Expands ADS-B Options for General Aviation

Avidyne Corporation today announced the expansion of its portfolio of automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) solutions for general aviation aircraft by making its ADS-B 978 MHz series datalink systems available for its MLX200 and MLX210 978 MHz transceivers. This will allow Avidyne customers operating below 18,000 feet in U.S. airspace to meet the 2020 mandate for ADS-B OUT capability. The new option also allows operators to receive FIS-B weather and traffic information via ADS-B _IN on their displays.

The MLX200 transceiver provides 978MHz ADS-B _IN and _OUT capability, which can be displayed on Avidyne’s IFD540 and IFD440 GPS/nav/com systems, and also on the company’s EX500, EX600 and EX5000 multifunction displays. The MLX210 unit is the same except that it has a compliant GPS sensor built in and does not depend on having a GPS source in the display.

At the Aircraft Electronics Association show in Dallas, Avidyne also unveiled the new AXP322 remote-mounted mode-S extended squitter transponder with ADS-B _OUT. This can by controlled via the IFD540 or IFD440 units, which also provide an approved GPS position input to the AXP322.

The Lincoln, Mass.-based company reported that certification of the IFD440 and the latest 10.1 version software for the IFD440 system should be complete in May. It also introduced a new MI10 mini keyboard that allows pilots to control and enter flight plans in the IFD540 and IFD440 systems wirelessly via Bluetooth.