The Connected FMS that powers the Universal Avionics (UA) Connectivity Ecosystem has received technical standard order certification from the FAA. Connectivity Ecosystem allows the secure sharing of information from UA’s flight management system (FMS), and two UA applications are now offering services using Connected FMS.
FlightPartner enables “weather-driven smart flight planning, two-way flight plan exchanges in-flight and on the ground, and seamless interaction with third-party applications,” according to UA. The app includes a georeferenced moving map with charts and weather information, vertical profile weather depiction, airport data and terminal procedures, and tools and utilities such as a notes function and checklists.
Blackhawk Aerospace Technologies is developing a supplemental type certificate (STC) to replace the standby instrument system in Cessna Citation 500/501/550/S550/560/560XL series jets with a Garmin GI 275 electronic standby instrument. “The current standby instrument systems in these aircraft have become difficult and very costly to repair,” according to Blackhawk.
Once FAA approved, the STC along with the parts manufacturer approval kit will be available from Blackhawk and Garmin dealers. The STC approval program is in its final stages, the Columbia, Missouri company said.
SmartSky Networks has added “private intranet” routing on its Skytelligence platform, using an aircraft interface device (AID) and a private connection to each aircraft on SmartSky’s air-to-ground network.
The intranet connection for each aircraft is separate so there is “no bandwidth sharing like what is found on other airborne networks,” according to SmartSky. The intranet data then routes securely through SmartSky’s ground network, and customers can receive the data on their corporate enterprise network with no need for routing on the internet.
Alto Aviation introduced five new base receptacles as part of its Cadence Cabin Control product line at the AEA International Convention and Trade Show. The receptacles are designed to accommodate Alto articulating tablet holders and also are a direct replacement for legacy Rosen monitor receptacles.
Fewer business aircraft cabins are flying with monitors at seat locations, with more passengers bringing their own tablets. The base-only Cadence receptacle “is well-suited to update aging Rosen bases,” according to Alto, “or to add a new base to a new location on the aircraft.” The receptacle bolts in using the same fastening scheme as the Rosen base.
Canada West Avionics has finished an approved model list-supplemental type certificate (AML-STC) for the installation of Flight Data Systems’ Sentry cockpit voice recorder (CVR) system. The package includes the Sentry CVR with recorder independent power supply (RIPS), cockpit controller, and cockpit-area microphone, and the AML-STC meets the upcoming Canada CVR mandate.
Aircraft covered by the STC include most Beechcraft turboprops, Cessna CitationJets, Dornier aircraft, M7 Aerospace turboprops, and Mitsubishi MU-2s. Additional AML-STCs are underway for Part 25 airplanes and Part 29 rotorcraft. The Sentry system is technical standard order approved under TSO-C123a, TSO-C177a, TSO-C155b, and TSO-C121b.
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