Textron Aviation’s Future Air Navigation System (FANS) upgrade for the Beechcraft Hawker 4000 and Cessna Citation Sovereign equipped with Honeywell Epic avionics will use Skytrac equipment for the satcom requirement. The supplemental type certificate (STC) program for the upgrade launches early next year and will feature Skytrac’s DL150 satellite data unit and SkyNode S200-012 air traffic safety services terminal.
The Skytrac equipment and FANS STC will enable flight crews to communicate via Iridium satcom with air traffic control, including over the North Atlantic where FANS is required, and using controller-pilot datalink communication text-style messaging and safety satvoice services. ADS-C low-latency position reporting is also supported. FANS allows pilots to use FAA Data Comm services in the U.S., including departure clearances at airports where this is enabled, as well as trajectory-based operations and improved rerouting around bad weather and traffic.
According to Skytrac, “Hawker 4000s and Citation Sovereigns flying across Europe will also be able to use these communication advances to receive the benefits of air traffic control prioritizing, delay avoidance, and optimal flight lengths.”