Honeywell Partners With Lufthansa Technik to Provide ADS-B Out Solutions to Airbus A320 Family

As part of Honeywell Aerospace’s commitment to airline operators across Europe, our Retrofit, Modification and Upgrades Center of Excellence (RMU CoE), has partnered with Lufthansa Technik to develop a certified Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out solution for the Airbus A320 family. The solution, using Honeywell’s latest TRA100B transponder, will enable A320 operators to comply with the latest European Aviation Safety Administration (EASA) DO-260B mandate. Lufthansa Technik is a leading provider of maintenance, completions, repair and overhaul services for civil aircraft, engines and components.

On 7 June, 2020, current EU regulations require aircraft utilizing European airspace to be compliant with a mandate requiring Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out to be on all aircraft, or their aircraft will be grounded and unable to fly. It is important for operators to upgrade as soon as possible, because service centers will be unable to keep up with demand if everyone waits until the last minute, causing long wait times and possibly grounding aircraft.

The ADS-B Out upgrade allows an aircraft’s transponder to continuously transmit important data such as airspeed, altitude and location to stations on the ground. This technology is the future of air traffic management and is the next step to support a safer, more efficient system to help manage it all.

“The deadline to upgrade to ADS-B Out is fast approaching and is an important source of business for Honeywell,” said Wally Malicki, director, Product Marketing, ATR. “Using this certification, Lufthansa Technik will be able to provide the necessary upgrades to A320 aircraft in the EMEAI region equipped with Honeywell’s TRA67A transponders.”

Honeywell’s newly developed TRA-100B transponder has the latest technology and its software can be updated, so operators will always be ready should additional mandates be issued in the future. It is extremely reliable and meets the latest environmental qualification standards including immunity to Wi-Fi.

The amount of air traffic around the world is increasing, and by providing ADS-B Out-compliant solutions like the TRA-100B, Honeywell is helping aircraft operators follow required mandates and transport passengers and cargo safely and efficiently.