Aspen Avionics is celebrating its 10th anniversary at AirVenture 2014 and installation of the Aspen retrofit glass-panel EFD 1000 in more than 9,000 aircraft. First introduced in 2006 and with deliveries beginning in 2008, the EFD 1000 offers a simple upgrade path by fitting into standard instrument panel holes while adding modern capabilities to older aircraft. “You literally have in your cockpit today more capable avionics than in a 737,” said Aspen president and CEO John Uczekaj. “It’s been quite a remarkable journey in a short time.”
Aspen also announced two new single-band products in its ADS-B solutions line. Aspen already offers the dual-band ATX200 transceiver, which provides dual-band ADS-B IN on both U.S. ADS-B frequencies (978UAT and 1090ES) and single-band 978UAT ADS-B OUT. The ATX200G includes a WAAS GPS position source for aircraft that don’t already have a WAAS GPS receiver.
The new ATX100 and 100G provide the same capabilities, but in a single-band ADS-B IN and OUT unit (978UAT). Both the ATX200 and 100 series meet the U.S. and other countries’ ADS-B OUT mandates for aircraft that fly below FL180. In the U.S., the mandate begins on Jan. 1, 2020, and affects all airspace where transponders are currently required.
The ATX200 units will be available in the first quarter of 2015 and will retail for $3,995, while the GPS-capable 200G is priced at $5,495. The single-band ATX100s are to begin deliveries in October and retail for $3,495 for the 100 and $4,995 for the 100G. Aspen also offers the ARX100 dual-band receiver for $1,695. None of these prices include the antenna.
To help customers figure out how to meet the ADS-B mandate, Aspen has created an online configurator on its website. Aircraft owners can plug the equipment into their aircraft to find out what they need to add to meet the mandate.
At AirVenture, Aspen also announced that under a partnership with the Geico Skytypers airshow team, Aspen EFD 1000 displays will be installed in the Skytypers’ SNJ-2s. The first installation has been done, and one member of the six-airplane team will be flying with the new display during the AirVenture airshow on July 30 and August 1 and 2.
“I’ve lusted after one of those displays for a number of years,” said Steve Kapur, one of the Skytypers pilots and the squadron marketing officer. “It gives confidence in terms of getting to and from the shows and also gives us some additional situational awareness in terms of flying the Skytypers demo. We’re flying aircraft built in 1940, they’re older than all the guys flying them, and we’ve got this latest gee-whiz tech.”
