FAA Selects Avionics Manufacturers for NextGen Technology

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Acting FAA Administrator Robert Sturgell announces that the agency has signed a $9 million agreement with two companies to accelerate the testing and installation of NextGen technology.

Teams led by Honeywell and Aviation Communications & Surveillance Systems (ACSS) will help the FAA test and develop technology that will be used on an airport’s airfield to detect and alert pilots of potential safety issues.

“Safety in the air starts with safety on the ground,” says Sturgell. “This technology is a real jump for aviation. Getting it into the cockpit as fast as possible is the smart thing to do.”

The FAA encourages industry to install avionics equipment early and receive benefits from ADS-B sooner rather than later. ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast. It is the NextGen satellite-based technology that broadcasts traffic and flight information to pilots and air traffic controllers.

Two Honeywell test planes and pilots from JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines will be used to provide operational input from concept development through flight evaluation and demonstration. Honeywell will conduct the work at Seattle Tacoma International and Snohomish County Paine Field airports. Under the agreement, Honeywell will receive approximately $3 million from the FAA.

The FAA will provide approximately $6 million to ACSS, which will work with US Airways to develop standards, flight demonstrations and prototypes. Twenty Airbus A330 aircraft will be equipped with cockpit displays, transponders, antennas, wiring kits and Class 2 Electronic Flight Bags. Demonstrations will be conducted at Philadelphia International Airport.