Vector Aerospace Certifies ADS-B Upgrade for Light, Medium and Heavy Helicopters
Richmond, BC – Vector Aerospace (www.vectoraerospace.com), a global independent provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, has recently received approval from the European and United States airworthiness authorities for its ADS-B solutions offered for Part 27 and Part 29 rotorcraft.
In December 2016, Vector received European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for its Part 29 rotorcraft ADS-B solution for the Airbus Helicopters AS332 L/L1 Super Puma, Leonardo Helicopters AW139 and Sikorsky S-76.
Simultaneously, Vector received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) STC approval to extend the approved model list (AML) its Part 27 ADS-B solutions to include the Airbus Helicopters H120/EC120, H125/AS350 and H130/EC130 light helicopter families.
Vector’s Part 29 ADS-B retrofit upgrade has already received STC approval from the national airworthiness authorities of the USA (FAA), Brazil (ANAC) and Mexico (DGAC). This STC – which utilizes the L3 Lynx NGT-9000 transponder – allows for a panel mount or remote mount transceiver, if cockpit space is a challenge.
The company’s ADS-B In/Out solution for the Airbus light helicopter family offers customers a choice between using the L3 Lynx NGT-9000 transponder or Garmin’s GTX-345 unit.
Vector’s ADS-B In/Out retrofits include a 1090 MHz extended squitter and UAT ADS-B In, and the upgrade also features Wi-Fi enabling for use with portable electronic devices (PEDs) via apps such as ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot. Installation of this ADS-B retrofit can be undertaken easily, with the associated aircraft downtime ranging from one day for simple configurations to a maximum of three days for more complex work.
“Receipt of EASA certification and the new AML STC for the ADS-B retrofit upgrade broadens our ability to offer this unique solution to customers across the globe,” said Elvis Moniz, Vice President, Business Development - Airframe & Avionics Solutions at Vector Aerospace. “This upgrade has generated significant customer interest in recent months, and we are actively supplying ADS-B kits and installation support to operators globally as the ADS-B regulatory compliance mandate date draws closer. To date, Vector has installed nearly 500 ADS-B systems in a variety of aircraft types, and we are continuing to work on new ways to offer our customers cost-effective solutions that are technically sound, well documented and well supported.”
Vector Aerospace offers over 35 modern STCs for the Airbus Helicopters AS332 L/L1 and H125/AS350, Bell Helicopter 206, 212, 412, UH-1H, 427 and 430, Leonardo Helicopters AW139, and Sikorsky S-76 and S-61 series helicopters. Vector is currently in the process of finalizing FAA STC approval for a retrofittableAS350/EC130 series crash resistant fuel tank developed in cooperation with Robertson Fuel Systems.
About Vector Aerospace
Vector Aerospace is a global provider of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services. Through facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Australia, South Africa, Kenya and Singapore, Vector Aerospace provides services to commercial and military customers for gas turbine engines, components and helicopter airframes. Vector’s customer-focused team includes over 2,200 motivated employees.
Vector Aerospace holds approvals from some of the world's leading turbine engine, airframe and avionics OEMs. Powerplants supported include a wide range of turboshafts, turboprops and turbofans from General Electric, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Rolls-Royce and Safran. Vector Aerospace also provides support for a wide range of airframes from Airbus Helicopters, Bell, Boeing, Leonardo Helicopters and Sikorsky, its capabilities including major inspections and dynamic component overhaul, and offers full-service avionics capability, including aircraft rewiring, mission equipment installation and glass cockpit upgrades.
More information can be found on the company’s website at www.vectoraerospace.com
