Program Providing Complete, Rule-Compliant ADS-B Systems For Light General Aviation Aircraft

FreeFlight Systems has launched Equip-It 2020 — a program to provide ADS-B equipment for light  general aviation aircraft (GA) that breaks the $2,000 barrier for a basic, but complete, system.

Equip-It 2020 features the product line, RANGR Lite, in two configurations — an ADS-B Out (only) system, FDL-978-TXL list priced at $1,995, and an ADS-B In/Out system, FDL-978-XVRL for $3,695. FreeFlight Systems is committing to build 10,000 of these systems in an effort to reduce costs to the GA community and is offering them through participating dealers.

Both systems come complete, no “fine print,” with built-in WAAS/GPS, and include ADS-B and GPS antennas, an install kit, control head and/or Wi-Fi module if needed.

The systems are based on the successful FreeFlight Systems RANGR “Blue Box” product line, with some reduced feature sets. The RANGR Lite systems are non-diversity capable, and have a clear coat box finish. The In/Out XVRL product has the ability to display free weather and traffic via our Wi-Fi module to a portable device only. Some of the I/O required for integration in larger aircraft has also been removed.

Customers who elect to start with the low-cost Out TXL system will have the option to upgrade to the In/Out XVRL version at a later date.

FreeFlight Systems is part of the ongoing “Equip 2020” working group, which has brought together the industry, users, and the FAA to address the actions necessary to ensure the entire US fleet is ready to go with ADS-B on time.  In those meetings, it became clear that price was a real barrier for owners of small aircraft.  Proposals to reduce the requirements for ADS-B, in order to reduce cost, were not gaining traction because the critical nature of ADS-B systems requires aircraft-quality, installed, avionics.

“Many of our customers, especially those with older aircraft, told us that they need a low cost option for equipage to meet the January 1, 2020 deadline for ADS-B,” said Tim Taylor, President and CEO of FreeFlight Systems. “We needed to find a way to accomplish that without compromising the quality of the system,” he continued. “Volume was the way to make that happen, and we are stepping up.”

The RANGR Lite systems are being offered through participating dealers only, on a first-come, first-served basis. Shipments are expected to begin in late Q2 2015. A list of participating dealers will be announced on April 8, 2015 via the  program website.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.equipit2020.com