Aeronautical Aviation
Clinton Carroll

Overcapitalisation in Avionics: The Benefits and Drawbacks

In the aviation industry, avionics systems are crucial for the safety, performance, and efficiency of aircraft. As technology advances, many aircraft owners and operators are tempted to invest heavily in state-of-the-art avionics systems, believing these upgrades will significantly enhance their aircraft’s capabilities, which they often do. However, the practice of over-capitalising on avionics can lead to unintended consequences, such as excessive capital expenditures that may not align with the aircraft’s operational needs.   Overcapitalization in avionics refers to investing excessive resources in upgrades that do not yield proportional benefits. While it is essential for aircraft to be equipped with necessary avionics systems to ensure safety and regulatory compliance, it is equally important to strike a balance between investment and return.   Understanding Capitalization in Avionics   Capitalization in avionics involves the financial commitment to various upgrades, ranging from simple navigation system enhancements to the installation of fully integrated avionics suites.

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uAvionix
Clinton Carroll

Exciting Update – Aeronautical Aviation Approved as the only uAvionix Qualified Installer in South Africa!

We are thrilled to announce that Aeronautical Aviation has been approved under the uAvionix Qualified Installer (Qi) Program, designed to empower businesses and enhance the customer experience. We join a growing community of installers around the globe and are now able take advantage of the numerous benefits this program offers. What is the uAvionix Qi Program? The Qi Program introduces three tiers: Basic Installer, Preferred Installer, and in 2025, the Master Installer Program. These tiers are crafted to provide us with more information, resources, and training, ensuring we deliver top-notch installations and superior customer service. Why are uAvionix doing it? Their goal is to power shops with enhanced tools and knowledge, raising the bar not only on avionics installations but also on the overall end-user experience. By improving our capabilities, we aim to deliver a seamless and superior experience for all aviation customers. What if I deal with a shop

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Aeronautical Aviation
Clinton Carroll

Redundancies in Avionics: A Critical Component of Aircraft Safety and Reliability

Redundancies in Avionics: A Critical Component of Aircraft Safety and Reliability Redundancy in avionics is a fundamental concept in modern aviation. It involves incorporating backup systems, components, and processes designed to take over in case the primary system fails. This strategic design is essential for ensuring that flight operations remain safe, efficient, and uninterrupted, even when faced with potential system failures.   The primary purpose of redundancy in avionics is to protect against the risks associated with single-point failures in complex aircraft systems. As aircraft technology becomes increasingly complex, redundancy plays a critical role in maintaining operational safety. We refer to redundancy as more than just having backup components; it is about creating layers of protection and functionality that work together seamlessly to ensure that if a failure occurs, there is no disruption to the flight. Types of Redundancy in Avionics   Various types of redundancy are integrated into avionics

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Garmin
Clinton Carroll

Garmin Holiday Savings!!!

We’re thrilled to share that Garmin has exciting customer promotions lined up for the holiday season! From November 18 to December 31, 2024, you can enjoy fantastic savings on top aviation gifts. This is a wonderful opportunity to find the perfect present while taking advantage of amazing deals on our select aviation products. Happy holidays! Sale! D2 Mach 1 Pro Smartwatch 0 – 0 reviews R21,404.87 excl. Vat Add to cart Sale! GDL 52 Portable SiriusXM/ADS-B Receiver 0 – 0 reviews R21,631.49 excl. Vat Add to cart Sale! D2™ Air X10 Aviator Smartwatch Black/Ivory 0 – 0 reviews R9,270.64 excl. Vat Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page Sale! D2™ Mach 1 Aviator Smartwatch with Oxford Brown Leather Band 0 – 0 reviews R21,242.42 Original price was: R21,242.42.R18,129.04Current price is: R18,129.04. excl. Vat Add to cart Sale! D2™ Mach 1 Aviator

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FreeFlight Systems
Clinton Carroll

FreeFlight Systems Announces TCAS II Integration with Dual Band ADS-B Solution

FreeFlight Systems Announces TCAS II Integration with Dual Band ADS-B Solution FreeFlight Systems has announced an enhancement to its Dual Band ADS-B solution with the integration of TCAS II. This upgrade allows business aviation pilots to view precise information about surrounding aircraft, improving real-time decision-making and routing efficiencies. This is the first ADS-B In cockpit upgrade available to business aviation operators. ADS-B In (Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast) provides accurate and comprehensive traffic data, including the position, velocity, and identification of nearby aircraft. This real-time information supports better routing decisions, leading to fewer go-arounds and saving fuel and time. Combining TCAS II (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) with ADS-B In enables hybrid surveillance, enhancing the reliability and performance of collision avoidance systems. With both systems integrated and displayed on the same cockpit interface, pilots can manage traffic information more efficiently and receive more precise and timely traffic alerts and resolution advisories, significantly reducing their workload

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Collins Aerospace
Clinton Carroll

Pro Line 4 Equipped Challenger 604 Announcement

November 2024 UPDATE:    Hardware Obsolescence Update   As communicated in 2019, Collins has been supporting repairs of Cathode Ray Tube (CRT’s) with used serviceable parts. These parts can no longer be reliably procured. Due to this, CASP will no longer cover CRT displays (CDU, EFD and RTU)as of December 31, 2024.  Rental Exchange will no longer offer CDU-6000 and RTU-4000 exchanges starting January 1, 2025. Collins will continue to offer firm fixed price repair coverage as parts are available for CDU-6000 and RTU-4000. Operators should anticipate unpredictable repair/return times and should plan for a minimum 21 days or greater for turn-around time if parts are available to complete a repair.    The EFD-4077 is obsolete and will be in the same parts situation as the CDU-6000/RTU-4000 above within the next six months.   It’s important to note that the cost and complexity of repairs on CRT’s will continue to rise and AOG situations

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Garmin
Ryan Ceprnich

Garmin Pilot’s Choice Rebate – Upgrade Your Avionics with Up to $450 Off!

Get More, Save More: Garmin Pilot’s Choice Rebate – Upgrade Your Avionics Today! As a pilot, I know how essential it is to have reliable avionics at your fingertips. It’s not just about making your flights smoother; it’s about having peace of mind, knowing your gear won’t let you down when it matters most. That’s why I’m thrilled to share that Garmin is offering their Pilot’s Choice Rebate, making it easier for us to upgrade the avionics we’ve been eyeing. This deal isn’t just about saving money — although, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love up to $450 off? It’s about enhancing the entire flight experience, from top-notch GPS navigation to radios that keep communication seamless. If you’ve been thinking of upgrading, now’s the perfect time. Plus, you get to choose the qualified installer you trust to get the job done, like your go-to A&P. Saving on Navigators I’ve always

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Spidertracks
Ryan Ceprnich

Flight Explorer: A New Era in Flight Safety and Performance Analysis

    Imagine this: You’re back on solid ground after a long flight, and as you sit in your office, you wish you could re-live the critical moments of your journey with greater clarity. What were the weather conditions like during that bumpy patch? Did the aircraft respond as expected when you made that sharp turn? Now, with Flight Explorer—a game-changing addition to the Spidertracks platform—you can do just that, with more insight and accuracy than ever before.   Flight Explorer was designed with one key idea in mind: making post-flight review simple, intuitive, and above all, deeply insightful. Whether you’re a pilot seeking to understand flight dynamics, an instructor guiding trainees, or an operator looking to maintain the highest safety standards, Flight Explorer brings clarity to every aspect of your flight. Let’s dive into the human benefits of this revolutionary tool.   The Power of Seeing Your Flight in 3D

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Lightspeed
Clinton Carroll

How the Lightspeed Delta Zulu™ has your back from takeoff to touch down.

Keeping Student Pilots Safe Learning to fly is a little like learning cliff diving. The first few times in the air definitely seem like a leap of faith. You might think the combination of altitude and inexperience is the most risky thing about those first few flights. As student pilot Sebastian Bußhardt discovered, sometimes it’s not. Bußhardt, who lives in Hamburg, Germany, is close to getting his private pilot’s license. He had wanted to fly since a girlfriend gave him a discovery flight for his 18th birthday, but getting a license in Germany is more expensive and regulated than in the U.S. He went to work in high tech and put flying on hold for years. By his 40th birthday, he had just sold an online business, and when his mother gave him a flight with an instructor for his birthday, he decided it was now or never. He signed up for

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uAvionix
Clinton Carroll

Innovative AV-Link Receives FAA Approval, Ushers in a New Era for the Connected Cockpit in Certified Aircraft

Following months of collaboration, uAvionix is thrilled to announce the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval of the AV-Link for certified aircraft. This approval expands the available functionality of uAvionix’s ecosystem of AV-30 panel displays, skySensor, and portable ADS-B receivers and transforms how these devices work with each other to display data for enhanced situational awareness and pilot efficiency in the cockpit.  “The journey to this achievement has been formidable, lasting several years while navigating numerous regulatory challenges,” noted Ryan Braun, Chief Operating Officer for uAvionix. “In retrospect, it has been worth the wait, as the AV-Link delivers out-sized functionality through its Wi-Fi connectivity and sets the stage for even greater interoperability with more avionics systems in the future.” The AV-Link, a Wi-Fi companion module for the AV-30, is pivotal to enabling the display of non-certified ADS-B traffic data on certified avionic instruments. This integration is uncommon but significant, allowing pilots to affordably access comprehensive flight

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Garmin
Clinton Carroll

Garmin Extends Mid-Year Savings Rebates and Promotions

Potential Customer Savings of Over $4,000 Extended Through September 20! Garmin is pleased to extend several limited time customer incentives, when making new purchases of qualifying products through September 20. Certain incentives can be combined to save even more! Garmin Mid-Year Savings Navigator, Autopilot, Datalink, and Flight Display Rebate Customers can receive up to $3,000 in rebates when purchasing certain qualifying products. From now until September 20, 2024, purchase any variant of GTN Xi, along with any of the following products, and save. GFC 500 or GFC 600/H autopilot, GDL 60, TXi, or G3X Touch Certified. All variants of GTN Xi, GFC 500, GFC 600, and GFC 600H, TXi flight display, and G3X Touch Certified qualify for savings. Customers with an existing, serviceable GNS product can also take advantage of the ongoing trade in program in addition to these new savings. Qualifying Products for Mid-Year Savings Navigator, Autopilot, Datalink, and

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ADS-B
Clinton Carroll

ADS-B Press Release

ADS-B Out Mandated By The SACAA for Class A and Class C Airspace with effect from 01 June 2025 The South African Civil Aviation Authority issued a Mandate on 27 March 2024, requiring all aircraft operating in Class A and Class C airspace to be equipped with ABS-B Out capabilities by 1 June 2025. Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast AMENDMENT SA-CATS 2 of 2024 – The South African Civil Aviation Authority has released an amendment of Document SA-CATS 91 with the insertion in technical Standard 91.05.5 after section 1 of the following section: “2. ADS-B (OUT) and Mode S 1090MHz Extended Squitter (ES) aircraft transponder requirements mandate ADS-B and Mode S 1090MHz Extended Squitter Transponder is required within RVSM airspace from F290 to F410 and shall be applicable from 1 June 2025 (AIRAC) ADS-B and Mode S 1090MHZ Extended Squitter Transponder is required within class A and designated class C airspace from

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