L-3 Avionics Systems announced today at the NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention that Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) capable versions of the SkyWatch® HP models SKY899 TAS and SKY899A TCAS-I are expected to be available in mid-2011. The new SkyWatch HP units will come with a pre-installed updated software package that will fuse active traffic and mode-S (1090 MHz) ADS-B information to provide users with a complete collision warning and traffic advisory solution. An upgrade for existing SkyWatch HP units will also be available.

“Accuracy in collision warning instruments is dependent upon technology. We designed SkyWatch HP to continue to provide high-fidelity traffic information, even as air-to-air and ground-to-air surveillance systems change,” said Larry Riddle, vice president of business development for L-3 Avionics Systems. “As ADS-B is progressively rolled out, new and existing SkyWatch HP owners will be able to take full advantage of the service using the same dependable system they know and trust.”

The SkyWatch Collision Avoidance System was the first active collision avoidance product certified for general aviation. Since its release, more than 14,000 units have been installed in aircraft ranging from single-engine piston planes to high-performance business jets. The powerful SkyWatch HP model meets the needs of turbine aircraft and can fulfill TCAS I requirements if installed with a TCAS-certified antenna.
The SkyWatch HP system enhances safety by providing the “big picture” of surrounding traffic. It continuously monitors the location of nearby transponder-equipped aircraft, noting range, relative bearing, relative altitude and closure rate. Tracking up to 35 targets simultaneously, it uses this information to predict collision threats, and then presents up to 12 potential hazards on a cockpit display.

With an active surveillance range of 35 nautical miles, the upgraded SkyWatch HP will incorporate pilot-selectable display ranges of 30, 15, 6 or 2 nautical miles and display traffic within plus or minus 9,900 feet of the user’s own aircraft. If an unsafe situation is encountered, an audible “Traffic, Traffic” warning is issued with a corresponding visual alert. Optional Verbal Intruder Positioningâ„¢ (VIP) callouts add range, relative bearing and relative altitude to the aural alert, helping pilots orient their scan without checking the screen.

In addition to its standard three-inch ATI CRT display, the system is compatible with numerous well-known display solutions, including common multi-function displays (MFDs) and Electronic Flight Instrument Systems (EFIS) on larger aircraft.

L-3 Avionics Systems has been helping pilots fly for more than 45 years. The company provides a wide array of avionics technologies designed to improve situational awareness and enhance safety, such as the GH-3000 electronic and J.E.T.® standby instruments, the SkyWatch® Collision Avoidance System, the Stormscope® Weather Mapping System and the Trilogy™ Electronic Standby Instrument, among others. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3avionics.com.

Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs approximately 67,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in C3ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems, aircraft modernization and maintenance, and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of a broad range of electronic systems used on military and commercial platforms. The company reported 2009 sales of $15.6 billion. To learn more about L-3, please visit the company’s website at www.L-3com.com.