TrueNorth Avionics reported that its Simphonē FANS-1/A Data Link UnitPlus was selected to upgrade a fleet of a dozen Cessna Citation Ultra aircraft for a U.S. Government program. The DLU, which is currently the only FANS over Iridium flight deck product with FAA TSO C159a certification, is ideal for maintaining safety standards while enabling direct flight paths for increased fuel and flight-time efficiencies.
“As air traffic grows over oceanic regions and operators are flying farther afield, they are being asked to find efficiencies while preserving safety standards,” says Mark van Berkel, TrueNorth CEO. “Our data link unit is the only FANS over Iridium device that meets FAA, Transport Canada, and EASA TSO standards. FANS 1/A compliance is an important prerequisite for operators flying these routes now, and into the future when the requirement is expanded.”
Operators flying in the progressively congested oceanic regions and Europe understand that compliance with the FANS-1/A mandate is a must. A flight deck equipped with FANS-1/A allows operators and controllers to communicate through a text-based interface rather than by HF radio voice transmission. This simplified communication removes language issues like accents, reduces communications error, and lowers crewmember stress. FANS lets controllers reduce spacing between aircraft, which facilitates more direct routes and affords added fuel efficiency. FANS-1/A also provides automatic position reporting of the aircraft (ADS-C) to Air Traffic Control eliminating the need for manual position reports from the flight crew.
“Our customers have told us that this TSO certification is key because it reduces the time it takes to STC the product,” van Berkel notes. “Another advantage operators will see with TrueNorth’s DLU is that it connects easily to a wide range of FMSs—no configuration required. This promotes shorter installation times, while helping to reduce associated costs and aircraft downtime.”
More about the FANS -1/A+ DLUPlus: TrueNorth’s FANS-1/A data link unit is a standalone component with FAA, Transport Canada, and EASA TSO-159a certifications. The lightweight unit has a small footprint and features a built-in Iridium transceiver. A member of the Simphonē product family the DLU readily connects to a wide variety of existing flight management systems, using a standard ARINC data interface. Installing the DLU is a streamlined process because it works directly out of the box, without additional configuration.