Story ID: 336 L3
Lynx NGT-9000 Gets Upgrade
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The software 2.1 release provides five improvements that range from enhanced situational awareness to simplified interface features.
Word Count: 316
L-3 Aviation Products released a suite of upgrades for its Lynx NGT-9000 ADS-B transponder that provides five different improvements ranging from enhanced situational awareness features to simplified interface features. The upgrades are collectively referred to as the 2.1 software release, but can be added separately.

The Lynx NGT-9000 is an ADS-B compliant transponder that provides traffic, WAAS/GPS, datalink weather and a color touchscreen display in a single box. Larry Riddle, vice president of sales and marketing, general aviation for L-3, said the Lynx NGT 9000 transponder family was designed specifically to accommodate upgrades and future enhancements.

One of the key upgrades involves the optional ADS-B Traffic Advisory System (ATAS) aural alerting. The 2.1 upgrade essentially improves the filtering built into ATAS to provide pilots a better awareness of aircraft around them, Riddle said. This is particularly important for helicopters flying low and slow, he said. L-3 has developed “smart” technology and is using more accurate ADS-B positioning information for the ATAS to better differentiate between nearby aircraft and those that are approaching the helicopter. The pilot can choose to mute the unit. The Software 2.1 upgrade enables tracking of aircraft below 380 feet.

Another upgrade is the ability to interface with L-3's Stormscope WX-500 lightning detection system. This enables the NGT-9000 to display real-time lightning data at ranges of 25-200 nm. Riddle noted that this helps maximize use of limited real estate in the helicopter cockpit.

The latest update further adds L-3 Lynx TerrainVision, which is not quite a full H-TAWS, but provides terrain awareness with a color-coded display to improve ground proximity situational awareness. The unit, Riddle noted, incorporates the same database integrity and color coding as the TSOed Lynx TAWS.

Other changes include the ability to configure the NGT-9000 to remove the "Squawk VFR" button and to provide for dual installation, whether remote or panel-mounted.