AVweb’s search of aviation news around the world found ADS-B upgrades for the Airbus A320, an engine-mount kit from Kaolin Aviation, a UAS research center at Texas A&M, and a call for entries from theNational Aviation Hall of Fame.ACSS, an L-3 & Thales company, announced that its XS-950 Mode S Transponder and T3CASSurveillance System have been certified by Airbus to DO-260B, the highest level of ADS-B Out capability. This certification of DO-260B capability for the A320 family of jets comes ahead of global mandates for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).Kaolin Aviation has contracted to design and produce firewall-forward (FWF) kits for popular kit-built aircraft, to make the choice of ULPower engines easier, when the OEM airframer has not yet developed a FWF installation. The first FWF kit will allow use of the ULPower 6-cylinder 520-size engines on the Van’s RV4, where a 320-size legacy engine is usually found.
Texas’ borders, skies, and fire prevention efforts are now linked with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi to test unmanned aircraft at the Lone Star Unmanned Aircraft Systems Center (LSUASC) of Excellence and Innovation. The Center recently announced collaborations with NASA, the Texas A&M Forest Service, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi.The LSUASC operates one of six FAA-designated test sites for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The National Aviation Hall of Fame (NAHF) is seeking entries for the 29th Annual A. Scott Crossfield Aerospace Educator of the Year Award, which includes a $5,000 cash stipend to the recipient. Founded by famed research test pilot Scott Crossfield in 1986, the award is a juried competition open to current classroom teachers in grades K through 12. The deadline for nominations is June 30, 2015.
