Unit first to be certified under TSO C146 for precision nav and approaches

By ANN Correspondent Juan Jimenez

UPS Aviation Technologies has announced the new CNX-80 All-In-One Integrated Navigation product. This new unit is composed of a quarter-VGA (320x240) color display, a WAAS GPS system, a built-in VHF Nav/Com with localizer and glide slope functions, as well as a series of interfaces, one of which is designed to control the new SL70R remote Mode A/C transponder.

As opposed to most GPS navigation systems in production today under TSO C129, which are designed as non-precision secondary navigation purposes, the new CNX-80 is the first unit worldwide to be certified under the new TSO C146 for standalone GA primary precision navigation and approaches.

The augmentation of the GPS capability with the data from the integrated 15-channel WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation Service) service receiver will allow the operator of the CNX-80 to use the unit as primary means of navigation in all phases of flight, including approaches. Approximated 800 WAAS-augmented LNAV and VNAV approaches should become available on July 10 of this year, once the FAA certifies the IOC (Initial Operating Capability) of the WAAS approach systems.

TSO C146 also specifies that the unit must provide a five hertz update rate rather than the one hertz update rate required by TSO C129. This means that the navigation screen must be updated five times per second rather than once. The unit is also designed to provide full lateral guidance on all procedures and approaches, from takeoff to the flare on landing. GPSS steering data is available for STEC and other types of autopilots; when coupled through GPSS, the CNX-80 can navigate your aircraft from takeoff through airways and waypoints, automatically transitioning through procedure turns or holding patterns to approaches, and will even execute a full missed approach. Lateral guidance is also provided for all ARIC 424 leg-types.

Other features of the CNX-80 are voice messaging and audio alerting, a VHF Nav receiver and 760 channel Com transceiver. The rear of the unit also features multiple input/output ports for interfaces to autopilots, CDI's, flight directors, multifunction display units and the new SL70R remote transponder.

The database for the CNX-80 will be provided by Jeppessen. Annual updates will be priced at $360 for the first unit, with an additional update for a second CNX-80 priced at $110.

The unit is expected to start shipping in May of 2003 and have a MSRP of $11,995.

Fmi: www.upsat.com