Garmin Transponders Receive TSO Approval for ADS-B Output

Garmin's GTX 330 and GTX 33 transponders have received FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval to supply Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out (ADS-B Out) data, an industry first, according to Garmin. With the new capability, the Garmin transponders are eligible to provide precise positional information to air traffic control and also to other ADS-B-equipped aircraft in the area. That capability is central to the FAA 'NextGen' air traffic system, in which aircraft position data is to be derived principally from onboard GPS systems rather than ground-based radar. The FAA has set a target date of January 1, 2020, for all aircraft to be equipped for ADS-B operation. The Garmin upgrade comes as a result of new 1090 Megahertz extended squitter (ES) technology, which will be available either as a new option for GTX 330 and GTX 33 buyers, or as a retrofit for existing units. Pricing has not yet been announced for either. The GTX 330, a solid-state Mode S transponder capable of feeding traffic information to Garmin's panel-mounted displays, currently costs about $3,500.