It’s a question that’s been asked by most Part 29 commercial helicopter operators across the industry: “How do I upgrade to meet ADS-B equipage requirements without spending too much or losing too many revenue hours to downtime for installation?” Fortunately, Garmin has the the answers well in hand.
ADS-B Made Simple
As the industry leader in fielded ADS-B solutions, we’ve engineered a full range of options to help operators access a cost-effective pathway to ADS-B compliance. At the most basic level, all that’s needed is a quick swap-out of the existing transponder in your avionics stack or remote rack with an ADS-B enabled unit such as our GTX 345 or GTX 335 series transponders.
Both versions meet ADS-B “Out” compliance standards as certified 1090 MHz ADS-B solutions when paired with a compatible WAAS position source or utilizing an optional internal GPS position source — so all the essentials for NextGen position reporting can be provided with an all-in-one-unit installation.
Both panel-mount versions of the GTX 345 and GTX 335 series come in an attractive size and form factor, making it easy to replace most popular transponders used in helicopter avionics systems. Also, remote-mount GTX versions are compatible with a variety of third-party cockpit controllers and displays, so system integration for those units is quick and straightforward as well.
See the Benefits of ADS-B “In”
As a bonus, the GTX 345 series transponders also make available the subscription-free weather and traffic display capabilities enabled by ADS-B “In” — which can be interfaced with compatible cockpit displays or streamed wirelessly via Connext technology to popular tablet/mobile device apps such as Garmin Pilot™, ForeFlight Mobile or FltPlan Go. The ADS-B weather link is continuously broadcast on the 978 MHz universal access transceiver frequency and is similar to the basic services offered by leading commercial satellite weather providers. For example, pilots can access NEXRAD imagery, METARs, TAFs, winds and temperatures aloft, PIREPs, NOTAMs and more, while in-flight. In addition, ADS-B traffic position reports (and threat-level symbology) can help pilots identify and avoid targets moving in the vicinity. Spoken audio alerts also call out potential flight path conflicts, (“Traffic, 10 o’clock, same altitude, two miles”) to get pilots looking in the right direction. So with the added benefits of ADS-B “In” traffic and weather, pilots find they can fly with greater efficiency, safety, flexibility and situational awareness in today’s busy airspace.
Add Navigation and More
On some helicopters, owners and operators may also have an option to upgrade to our GTN™ 750 or GTN 650 series touchscreen navigators for even more centralized control and operational capabilities. Combining touchscreen data entry and integrated navigation/communication radio tuning — as well as remote transponder and audio panel control — the GTN upgrade provides a GPS navigator with multifunction display capabilities, including high-resolution terrain mapping, graphical flight planning, frequency lookup, georeferenced electronic charts, traffic target surveillance, multiple weather display options, taxiway diagrams, autopilot interface, full WAAS LPV approach capability and other high-value technology options to help pilots make quicker, smarter decisions in all phases of flight.
See More From Your ADS-B Investment
For decades, Garmin has demonstrated innovation and leadership in developing advanced, cost-effective solutions that make sense for the demanding world of helicopter operations. We have the systems and choices to ensure that you get the most from your ADS-B investment. With your transponder-based Garmin ADS-B solution, you’ll gain the extra peace of mind provided by an industry-leading two-year warranty — backed by our award-winning Garmin product support team. And wherever you fly, you can count on us to keep you moving ahead with reliable service and field support at hundreds of locations around the globe. ADS-B from Garmin: It’s all about flying with confidence.
