[Avionics Today Feb. 25, 2014] FreeFlight Systems and the University of North Dakota (UND) have received an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate for the first rule-compliant helicopter 978 MHz ADS-B In/Out Universal Access Transceiver (UAT).
The transceiver has been certified for the Bell 206B Jet Ranger. According to FreeFlight, the system receives ADS-B In, TIS-B weather and FIS-B traffic, and will be the first time ADS-B traffic is displayed on Garmin GNS 430 displays in a helicopter.
FreeFlight jointly developed the Bell 206B STC with UND’s Avionics Department, along with contributions from FAA’s Center for General Aviation Research (CGAR).
“This is another important first for the RANGR product line and for GA aircraft owners who are planning ADS-B installations to meet the FAA’s Jan. 1, 2020 equipage deadline,” said Tim Taylor, CEO of FreeFlight Systems.
Taylor said FreeFlight and UND are partnering with other industry experts to develop a "wide range of STCs" that will also feature ADS-B compatibility with existing avionics systems.