If avionics shops and would-be buyers are still lacking for choices in the ADS-B market, they got several more to pick from on Wednesday at the Aircraft Electronics Association convention in Dallas. Three companies announced a total of six new ADS-B products, bringing to nearly 40 the number of mandate-ready ADS-B solutions of some kind.
From Avidyne comes the MLB100, a $2495 ADS-B In only product for use by owners who already have the Out requirement covered. Avidyne already had a 1090 ES transponder, but now it adds two UAT transceivers, the $3495 MLX200 and the $4995 MLX210. The former is intended for use with Avidyne’s own IFD440/540 navigators while the latter has its onboard GPS position source and is aimed at owners who plan to keep their Mode-C transponders. See Avidyne’s website for more details.
From Appareo, the company that makes the Stratus portable ADS-B In receivers, comes the Stratus ESG. It’s a 1090 ES transponder, but with a twist: It has its own GPS position source, something that has proven to be a snag for other owners trying to satisfy the mandate with an ES product. The $3490 unit is expected to be certified late this year and available shortly thereafter. The price includes the GPS antenna. More at www.appareo.com.
Sandia Aerospace is throwing its hat into the ring with its own ADS-B box, but it too has a twist. Although it looks like and fits into the avionics stack like a transponder, the STX-360 is actually a 978 MHz device combined with a Mode A/C transponder. It comes complete with its own screen for onboard traffic display. And just in case that’s not enough variety, there’s a remote-mount version of the product called the STX-360R that has its own control head. For displaying traffic, both versions have a small onboard screen. Neither has its own GPS source, however, so owners considering this product will need an approved GPS source. For more, see the company’s website.
