SKYTRAC’s DL 150 satellite data unit has been selected by Textron Aviation for its FANS 1/A+ upgrade program. (Photo: SKYTRAC)
ORLANDO, Fla. — Textron Aviation will feature SKYTRAC’s DL 150 satellite data unit (SDU) and SkyNode S200-012 as part of its Future Air Navigation Systems (FANS 1/A+) upgrade program for the global in-service fleet of Hawker 4000 and Cessna Citation Sovereign aircraft.
FANS 1/A consists of controller-pilot data link communications (CPDLC) and automatic dependent surveillance-contract (ADS-C) to enable controllers to monitor and communicate with flights or reduce aircraft separation distances in areas in which radar is not feasible. Civil aviation regulators and air traffic service providers have enacted CPDLC mandates in some flight information regions throughout the globe, including, most notably, sections of high altitude European airspace and the North Atlantic Track Route System.
SKYTRAC describes the DL 150 as a ARINC 741 SDU that is compatible with the Iridium satellite network. According to the DL 150 product page, there are also pending supplemental type certifications for the DL 150 on the Hawker 800, 850, and 900, as well as Gulfstream’s G150, G200, and several other commercial and business aircraft models.
Pictured above is the SkyNode S200-012. (Photo: SKYTRAC)
The SkyNode S200-012 is also an Iridium-based system that meets the requirements as a Long-Range Communications System (LRCS) for Air Traffic Services (ATS) safety services communication, according to SKYTRAC. The system was designed based on standards set in Satellite Voice Guidance Material (SVGM) and FAA Advisory Circular 20-150B (AC20-150B).
In-service Hawker 4000 and Cessna Citation Sovereign jets feature Honeywell Primus Epic avionics, according to SKYTRAC. The installation of DL 150 and SkyNode systems will upgrade the data link and satellite voice communications capabilities of both aircraft.
“We are committed to working with Textron Aviation and supporting their efforts to bring these communication improvements to the Hawker 4000 and Sovereign in-service fleets,” Jan van der Heul, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SKYTRAC, said in a statement. “This is an exciting time for us as we shape the next generation of Iridium-based satellite aeronautical services.”