[Avionics Magazine 06-30-2016] Under a new partnership with Duncan Aviation, L-3/Thales subsidiary ACSS is introducing the new NXT-700 transponder for the business aviation market. According to Duncan Aviation, the NXT-700 is a Mode S transponder that meets the DO-260B requirements for the FAA’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out 2020 equipage mandate.
ACSS and Duncan have also developed an Approved Model List (AML) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the NXT-700 for several legacy business jets. The AML STC applies to the following legacy aircraft models:
- Beechcraft Hawker 125-400, 600 and 700
- Beechcraft Hawker 400 SP/Beechjet, Early 400 Series
- Gulfstream IIB, III and V
- IAI Westwind 1124
- Textron Aviation CitationJet, Ultra, V, VII and 550
- Learjet 31A, 35, 35A, 36 and 36A
- Dassault Aviation Falcon 10, 20, 50, 200, 900 and 900B
- Bombardier CL-6013A and 3R
The NXT-700 will save owner/operators costs and downtime because it is form-fit compatible with current retrofit Traffic Collision Avoidance System II (TCAS II) 7.1 systems and may be able to use the existing mounting rack and connectors for a quick installation. Since there are no additional control heads needed, the cockpit configurations will remain the same as well.
Completion of an AML STC is expected by the fourth quarter of 2016 with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approval will be sought shortly thereafter, according to Duncan.