ADS-B Technologies recently responded to an FAA market survey request that would identify vendors who could provide a space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) service for remote mountainous areas in the US and in oceanic regions starting in 2018.

These systems would augment the FAA´s domestic ground-based ADS-B infrastructure, set to be operational as early as 2013 with full implementation in 2020.

The proposed ADS-B Technologies system would use the Globalstar (NASDAQ:GSAT) Second Generation Low Earth Orbit constellation and the Company´s proprietary ADS-B Link Augmentation System (ALAS™) avionics interface to provide real time aircraft position information to the FAA. The system has been designed to augment existing terrestrial systems by allowing aircraft to be precisely tracked by controllers in areas where conventional surveillance methods are either impossible or impractical to employ. In addition to FAA tracking, individual aircraft could be equipped to see each other and receive real time weather and airspace information from authorized sources on the ground.

On December 28, six more second-generation Globalstar satellites were successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using the Soyuz launch vehicle. This was Globalstar´s third successful multi-satellite launch in a little more than a year.

"This means that Globalstar is now three-quarters of the way toward its goal of launching 24 new high speed, high capacity satellites capable of supporting our NextGen space based air traffic management system," said Skip Nelson, president of ADS-B Technologies LLC. "And it also means that we are on track for full scale operational testing by late 2014, should the FAA or any other civil aviation organization require it."

The unique combination of the ALAS avionics interface and Globalstar´s relatively straight forward and reliable "bent pipe" architecture will allow virtually any 1090 MHz Extended Squitter (ES) or 978 Megahertz Universal Access Transceiver ADS-B source to report an aircraft´s position to ATC in real-time (<400ms). An additional advantage of the Globalstar system is that all of the unique ADS-B components remain on the ground where repairs and upgrades are easily accomplished.

"Simplicity may be the key to establishing the kind of reliability that a safety-oriented business like air traffic control requires," Nelson said. "Globalstar´s large number of ground stations means fewer and shorter hops between the satellite and the ATC point of service and thus fewer potential points of failure. This should also promote global harmonization since it also means that more nations will be able to land their own surveillance data inside their own borders with a standardized set of protocols."

To help meet the NextGen agenda for air traffic management, ADS-B Technologies LLC has teamed with Globalstar, Inc. to develop a worldwide leading edge satellite based air traffic control management system.

On July 13 six new second-generation Globalstar satellites were successfully launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using the Soyuz launch vehicle. "This means that Globalstar is halfway to its goal of adding 24 new second-generation satellites to its constellation,"said Robert "Skip" Nelson president of ADS-B Technologies LLC. "And with these new satellites, ADS-B Technologies is now almost halfway to our goal of creating a system that can someday provide satellite based ADS-B on a global scale."

ADS-B Technologies now has a formal 10-year agreement with Globalstar, Inc. (NASDAQ:GSAT), announced on May 10, 2011 to use its proprietary ADS-B Link Augmentation System ALAS™ technology on Globalstar´s Second - Generation satellite constellation. The ALAS™ system, which will use Globalstar´s network of satellites and ground stations to provide both ADS-B surveillance and communications services on a global scale, was first announced to the public at the Integrated Communications, Navigation and Surveillance Conference in Herndon, VA in May 2010.

"The system will be compatible with virtually any 978 Megahertz Universal Access Transceiver, or 1090 MHz Extended Squitter (ES) ADS-B avionics source," Nelson said. "The higher data transfer rate that Globalstar´s new constellation will provide is absolutely necessary for ADS-B link augmentation."

The ALAS™ system is designed to augment existing ADS-B networks commissioned by the Federal Aviation Administration as well as systems in Australia and Europe to create trans-oceanic and remote services well out of the range of conventional ground based networks. It also has the potential to offer the real-time backhaul of Flight Data Recorder information, UAS sensor data, bi-directional meteorological data and bi-directional voice in a wide range of avionics and air traffic management applications.

According to ADS-B Technologies Director, Dr. Fred Fish, "So far, industry response and peer reviews have been quite positive. Airborne testing and the certification process will continue for another year or so and we´re on schedule for an initial commercial demonstration sometime in mid-2013."

ADS-B Technologies has been selected as a subcontractor and Core Member on the General Dynamics' team for the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) System Engineering 2020 Research and Development/Mission Analysis Support program. The ten-year contract awarded to the Team has a maximum potential value of $1.2 billion if all options are exercised. Funding will be awarded through individual task orders.

Through this program, the Team will support the FAA's NextGen modernization program to improve safety and bring greater efficiencies to the U.S. airspace system by providing research and development and systems engineering services. ADS-B Technologies' work may focus on using its expertise in the field of Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) technology to help the FAA's Air Traffic Control and Next Generation (NextGen) modernization program in improving the safety, capacity and efficiency of the country's airspace.

ADS-B Technologies' fellow Core Members on the contract include Gulfstream Aerospace, Jet Aviation, Advanced Aerospace Solutions, Alaska Airlines, Applied Systems Intelligence, Avidyne Corp., BAE Systems, Baron Services, Center for Network Centric Product Support Research, Cirrus Aircraft, Conklin de Decker, CSSI, FlightSafety International, Hi-Tec Systems, Infina Corp., Innovative Solutions International, Interim Solutions for Government, Sikorsky Aircraft, SRA International, Universities Space Research Association.

The complete contract, which also includes separate awards to teams headed by Boeing, ITT and Metron Aviation represents a total award worth potentially $6.5 billion over 10 years. It is the largest set of awards in FAA history.

ADS-B Technologies introduced its new Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast peripheral system called the ADS-B Link Augmentation System, or ALAS™ at the 2010 ICNS Conference in Herndon, Va last week. The Patent Pending system enables aircraft to maintain non-line-of-sight air-to-ground surveillance, data, and voice communication on a world-wide basis and in real-time as a supplement to primary line-of-sight (LOS) ground-based ADS-B systems. ALAS uses MOPS compliant 978MHz ADS-B technology and voice communications via a proprietary Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite link on a non-interference basis with primary LOS ground-based surveillance, data and voice communications systems.

Current primary data communication systems are dependent upon ground-based transceivers to convey a variety of information, including surveillance and voice for Air Traffic Control, weather data, and operator communications. These air/ground radio frequency links are, in most cases, limited to direct LOS communication. Mountain ranges, expansive open water and the curvature of the earth all limit the effective range of conventional systems to relatively short distances and those aircraft beyond LOS range frequently fly without the benefits of high fidelity surveillance. While many international transport category aircraft do use non-LOS links such as the FANS-1 and ADS-C, operations utilizing these systems are necessarily constrained to “procedural” aircraft-to-aircraft separation spacing, rather than more efficient surveillance separation spacing, based largely on the limitations of the functional architecture supporting those systems.

ALAS now provides a way to extend the surveillance and communications capabilities of current NextGen ADS-B networks to very remote, or oceanic areas beyond the practical capabilities of systems with terrestrial antennas. Primarily designed to support the bi-directional 978MHz UAT link protocol, the system can be used with the 1090MHz Extended Squitter link as well. An important feature of the ALAS system is that it is designed to work as a peripheral device and is thus compatible with almost any ADS-B avionics or Ground Based Transceiver system. Bi-directional link encryption is not only possible, but also somewhat inherent due to the system's design.

The system has been in development and airborne testing for more than three years. Globalstar, Inc. will provide the satellite backbone for the technology. Evaluation units should become available no later than 4th Quarter 2011.

ADS-B Technologies recently supported the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in its Smart UAV program by installing a Portable ADS-B Airspace Management System in the Institute's state of the art Mobile UAV Command and Control Unit at the Goheung, South Korea Research Center. The Company also provided Garmin GDL90 UAT transceivers for installation in two of the Institute's full size SUAV models.

"ADS-B Tech is proud to be associated with KARI. We're really looking forward to collaborating on the Sense and Avoid aspects of the project," said CEO Skip Nelson. "The Smart UAV is certainly one of the most unique unmanned vehicle designs we've ever seen. The extremely fine detail that we see in their test and development program indicates that this versatile little Tiltrotor should be an incredibly reliable platform for a wide range of scientific payloads."

KARI's engineers and academics have devoted more than eight years to perfecting the Smart UAV design. The vehicle will be used primarily for civilian purposes. It can takeoff vertically like a helicopter, then transition to forward flight and accelerate to more than 200 mph for long range missions. It may enter the commercial market in 2011.

"ADS-B Technologies started Dynasty in 2006 to act as their manufacturing and service representative in China," commented Dynasty's President, Scott Jiang. "Since then, we've participated in more than 250 Garmin ADS-B avionics installations here in China, so it was only natural that we become an official distributor and warranty service center for Garmin as well."

Dynasty Aviation Technologies specializes in selling only Garmin Aviation products. Its business office is located at 20E, TOWER 1, BAUHINIA COURT, NO 30, DONG SAN HUAN BEI ROAD, BEIJING 100026. Telephone is 86-10 8598-1955. www.dynavtech.com

Released 3 June,2008:
In the Shadow of the Great Wall, ADS-B Becomes a Key Component in China's First Dedicated General Aviation Airport

"This airport is essentially a prototype for General Aviation Airports all over China," commented ADS-B Technologies' President, Skip Nelson. "Everything about it is designed to develop and test the infrastructure for what we hope will be a large and vibrant private aviation sector in this country."

Located forty-five miles North of Beijing and within sight of the Great Wall, the airport is owned by Jinggong General Aviation Corporation, part of Jinggong Industries, a large Chinese conglomerate that produces everything from heavy machinery to some of China's best wine. Jinggong's vision for the airport is to use it as a model for dozens of similar airfields it plans to develop throughout the country.

"We were impressed by Jinggong's foresight in incorporating ADS-B into Badaling's Master Plan. Right from the beginning, they are going to have a very safe and efficient operation that will promote GA and private aircraft ownership here in China," added Scott Jiang, ADS-B Tech's Asian VP.

The airport has a large administration building and supports a flight school, flying club and licensed repair facility. Jinggong GA is also an authorized reassembly facility for Cirrus and a sales and installation center for ADS-B Technologies.

ADS-B Technologies is an Alaska-based engineering firm specializing in the deployment of fully integrated, turn-key ADS-B systems around the world.

Released 25 April, 2008:
Portable ADS-B Airspace Management System Announced

"AMCU is capable of monitoring and coordinating the operations of any number of 978 MHz UAT equipped aircraft from unimproved field sites," said Dave Palmer, ADS-B Tech's ATC Technical Director. "This system is going to be ideal for controlling the air picture over forest fires, disaster sites and in tactical applications where a highly accurate and reliable real-time surveillance system needs to be deployed fast."

Released 5 September, 2007:
ADS-B Technologies Teams With Cirrus To Introduce New Aircraft Into China

Acknowledging the potential benefits of ADS-B technology in both the pilot training market and the personal transportation airplane market in China, Cirrus Design Corporation and ADS-B Technologies have agreed to work together to offer Chinese customers the opportunity to have ADS-B on all Cirrus aircraft sold in China beginning in January, 2008.

CIRRUS International Managing Director John M. Bingham said, "Both CIRRUS and ADS-B Technologies have been heavily involved in China over the past few years. China has already adopted ADS-B in some of its flight schools. We believe that offering ADS-B on our airplanes sold in China will greatly support the development of general aviation in China by enabling China to open up more of its air space."

"Our company's ground-breaking work with the Civil Aviation Flight University of China pioneered ADS-B in the region," added Skip Nelson, ADS-B Technologies' President. "We have a unique understanding of China's GA needs and feel that Cirrus' innovative approach to engineering, style and safety, when combined with the efficiency of ADS-B based Air Traffic Management, could make them an icon for the freedom to own and operate private aircraft throughout the country."

Based in Minnesota, USA, CIRRUS is a recognized global leader in the manufacturing of personal aviation aircraft that provides unprecedented levels of performance, quality, and safety. Their popular SR20 and SR22 composite airplanes incorporate innovative, advanced technologies into their design, including the unique CIRRUS Airframe Parachute System (CAPS). The SR22 is the best selling airplane in the world today.

ADS-B Technologies is an Anchorage, Alaska based company specializing in the deployment of fully integrated, turn-key ADS-B systems around the world.

The demonstration was part of a two day World Bank conference held to discuss the Bank's basic aviation infrastructure funding project for the East African Community. This is the second time the Alaska-based ADS-B Air Traffic Management integration firm has achieved a similar milestone, the first being the introduction of UAT to Asia, during trials in Guanghan, China in July 2005.

"We had no problem setting up the Sensis equipment, it's very solid stuff," said Skip Nelson, ADS-B Technologies' President. "Unlike radar which typically has moving parts, this equipment is all solid state and built for thousands of hours of virtually maintenance-free operation."

Nelson said his firm also recorded another first by demonstrating a wireless cockpit interface between the aircraft's Bluetooth UAT interface and HP 4705 hand held displays.

The firm now plans to deliver more than 160 avionics packages and six GBT's to the University during 2006. Meanwhile, encouraged by UAT's initial success, the Civil Aviation Authority of China continues to evaluate UAT for broader deployment in their country.


Released 16 July, 2005:
ADS-B Flies For The First Time In China

"The test flights exceeded all our expectations - we tracked both aircraft continuously from power-up to shutdown and out to more than 80km, despite a relatively low antenna position at the ground site," Skip Nelson, ADS-B Technologies' President commented. "More than fifty University representatives, Chinese Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) officials and a World Bank observer watched as we vectored the aircraft out to 60km separation and then back in for a 300 meter close approach to each other."

The five day trials, which included installing Garmin equipment in the first two aircraft, are part of a broader agreement between ADS-B Technologies and CAFUC, that will eventually equip more than 100 of the University's trainers with ADS-B. "The most exciting thing is that this could be a prototype of a new low altitude surveillance architecture for General and Business aviation in China," Nelson continued. " We're already looking at Beijing-Shanghai-Hong Kong and Beijing-ChengDu as possible ADS-B enabled GA routes."

ADS-B Technologies is an Anchorage, Alaska based aviation consulting firm that specializes in new air traffic management technologies. The Civil Aviation Flight University of China is Asia's largest aviation school, with more than 6,000 students enrolled.