Garmin Transponder TSO'd For 1090ES

Garmin International has received TSO-C166a authorization from FAA for its GTX 330 and GTX 33 transponders with 1090 MHz Extended Squitter (ES) capability. Garmin claimed to be the first avionics company to receive such authorization for a general aviation transponder, putting GA aircraft on the path toward complying with the FAA’s proposed requirement for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) equipage.
The 1090 MHz ES builds upon the existing transponder system by transmitting pertinent aircraft information independent of being interrogated. The ES transmissions will automatically provide position, velocity and heading information.
Garmin, Olathe, Kan., will offer the ES technology as a retrofit upgrade option for GTX 330 and GTX 33’s already in the field, as well as an optional upgrade on newly purchased GTX 330 and GTX 33 transponders.