Honeywell has received a European Technical Standard Order from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approving the use of its Primus Epic Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out transponder in Europe.

ADS-B Out enables an aircraft to use precise satellite global positioning (GPS) data to accurately pinpoint its position in real time and broadcast this data to surrounding aircraft and air traffic control (ATC) on the ground. This level of accuracy improves safety by maximising air traffic situational awareness, giving pilots and ATC a better understanding of where the aircraft is in relation to the traffic around it.

With this certification, business aircraft operators flying aircraft equipped with Honeywell’s Primus Epic cockpit in Europe will also be able to upgrade to ADS-B in the future, saving time and money by using the improved positioning accuracy to request route changes faster, reduce aircraft spacing and fly at more fuel-efficient altitudes.

• Honeywell’s Primus Epic ADS-B transponder is the only business aircraft ADS-B system compliant with D0260B standards, which require the transponder to feature a self-aware GPS that can pinpoint accuracy down to roughly three meters. With improved GPS accuracy pilots will be able to fly safer with greater awareness of nearby aircraft. This will also serve to ease air traffic management in the coming years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expects to mandate D0260B in the United States in 2020.
• The EASA product certification builds on an existing FAA certification for U.S. operations in place since December 2011. As well as the European certification, the Primus Epic ADS-B transponder also has product certifications in Australia and the U.S.
• With product certifications in place, manufacturers including Dassault, Gulfstream and Embraer are now undertaking EASA platform certifications of the Primus Epic ADS-B transponder, with forward-fit installations expected by January 2015.
• Primus Epic is available on selected Gulfstream G-series (PlaneView), Dassault Falcon (EASy II), Embraer E-series and Lineage, Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna Citation, and AgustaWestland AW139 aircraft.