FreeFlight Receives STC for AW139 ADS-B Installation

Pia Bergqvist

Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 09:26 PM ET

Verified

AgustaWestland AW139

Key Takeaways:

FreeFlight received a supplemental type certificate (STC) for its RANGR FDL-978TX universal access transceiver (UAT) in the AW139 helicopter, making it the first rule-compliant ADS-B Out UAT for Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) operators.
This certification is crucial for the high-traffic GOMEX region, as it enables helicopter operators to meet the upcoming 2020 ADS-B Out compliance mandate, unlike previously installed non-compliant systems.
The STC development, which involved integrating the system into the AW139's sophisticated avionics with Chevron, was found to be straightforward, suggesting simpler installations for other aircraft types.

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FreeFlight has received a supplemental type certificate (STC) for the installation of its RANGR FDL-978TX universal access transceiver (UAT) into AgustaWestland’s AW139 helicopter. According to FreeFlight, this is the first rule-compliant ADS-B out UAT available for Gulf of Mexico (GOMEX) helicopter operators.

GOMEX presents a complex area to fly with thousands of daily helicopter flights, and because ADS-B infrastructure already existed it became a good test area for emerging systems. “The FAA allowed operators to install early versions of ADS-B that do not meet the final rule,” according to FreeFlight’s president and CEO Tim Taylor.