Commercial

AirBaltic is Launch Customer for Universal Avionics Installations

By Staff Writer | April 14, 2017
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Air20Tanzania20orders20Bombardier20Q400AirBaltic has installed the new Universal Avionics ADS-B Out and localizer performance with vertical navigation (LPV) solution on two aircraft, Universal Avionics said. AirBaltic is the launch customer for the solution. It includes Universal Avionics UNS-1Ew satellite-based augmentation system flight management system (FMS). AirBaltic is familiar with the FMS.

“The FMS has proved itself to be a reliable system,” said Aleksandrs Vorobjovs, avionics engineer for airBaltic. “With technology moving forward and support from the European Global Navigation Satelite Systems Agency (GSA), airBaltic made the logical decision to launch the E-GEN project and upgrade the turboprop fleet to the Universal SBAS-FMS. The new FMS provides a lot of benefits to us as an airline, including new functionality such as LPV/RNP approaches and route optimization, resulting in lower fuel burn and emissions.”

The solution has received FAA and EASA supplemental type certification, awarded to Canard Aerospace for the Bombardier Q400.

“Canard’s STC installs the Universal FMS with LPV functionality on Q400 aircraft in several configurations,” said Paul Denkmann, avionics project engineer with Canard Aerospace. “The FMS can be interfaced with ADS-B capable ATC transponders to enable ADS-B Out functionality,” he added. “The FAA STC has been validated with EASA and is in the process of Canadian (TCCA) validation. This project has been great to bring to fruition with the outstanding support and teamwork from the various parties involved.”

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