Dateline: Amsterdam

Avionics 2007 wrapped up today (Thursday) after two days of sustained activity on the exhibition floor and the prospect of further growth next year. This year’s conference featured 75 exhibitors, 50 percent more than in 2006, and by the first day, reportedly, 75 had rebooked for next year’s conference. The aptly named Avionics 2008 will return to this charming city of bicycles and canals, but at a new venue to be announced.

Why the growth? Avionics will be the linchpin of the future air traffic management environment, and already figure prominently in the building blocks of that environment, including Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast and Required Navigational Performance. Presenters at the conference portion, including representatives of Rockwell Collins, cargo airline UPS and Avtech Sweden AB, are at the leading edge of those developments at places like Louisville, Ken. (the UPS hub), and Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.

But just like GPS became a commodity technology readily available in handheld devices, new-generation systems like ADS-B are going mainstream. On the exhibition floor, Muirhead Avionics of the UK, serving as the agent for Kinetic Avionic Products Ltd., advertised Kinetic’s SBS-1 “Real-Time Virtual Radar,” a low-cost, Mode S receiver with ADS-B capability for training purposes and the “aviation enthusiast.” The system, including receiver, antenna, Basestation software and USB cable, retails for a tidy 500 British pounds. Connected to an everyday PC, the system displays ADS-B aircraft hits, including heading, altitude, vertical climb rate, lat/long and call number.

Aircraft spotting has risen to new heights. “There’s a lot of people who want them,” said Muirhead Sales Manager Gino Masoero. “They’re selling like hot cakes.”