uAvionix Receives FAA TSO For Drone GPS Receiver

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uAvionix announced on Wednesday that it has received a TSO from the FAA for its truFYX GPS receiver for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS/drones). The unit weighs 20 grams, which includes its receiver, antenna, DO-160G power supply and interface protection circuits. The truFYX is capable of acting as the primary position source for domestic en-route and terminal navigation along with ADS-B OUT solutions.

“The Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS)/Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capable GPS is the first to specifically target UAS platform navigation and surveillance solutions,” uAvionix said. “With an increased regulatory focus on certifiability of UAS for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, truFYX provides a critical component to enable safe navigation and airspace integration.”

According to uAvionix, the truFYX technology has previously been TSO-certified in form factors such as the skyBeacon, tailBeacon and tailBeaconX. The units are built at uAvionix’s FAA Manufacturing Inspection District office (MIDO)-approved facility in Columbia Falls, Montana. Airbus’s Zephyr high altitude platform station (HAPS) program was announced as truFYX’s launch customer last January.

Kate O'Connor
Kate O’Connor works as AVweb's Editor-in-Chief. She is a private pilot, certificated aircraft dispatcher, and graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Nice. Now we need to be able to use such inexpensive, compact, low power and nearly weightless devices in light aircraft.

    • We already can – in light aircraft form they’re called SkyBeacon, TailBeacon, and TailBeacon X.

  2. There is a difference between a position source device and a navigator. This item, whether encased in the ‘Beacon’ series products or as shown here as a GPS product, is only a position source. In other words, its only output is a latitude/longitude fix and maybe a time stamp.

    It doesn’t know where you’re going (doesn’t know your flight plan or destination). Doesn’t have a database of airports or waypoint or procedures. As a result, it can’t provide any left/right deviation signals.

    I’m not criticizing the product. Just saying that this is not a replacement for a GNS or GTN or IFD unit. A position source isn’t a navigator.

  3. uAvionix already builds a super nice little portable battery powered ADSB In and Out unit for about $600 or so. Unfortunately, is is not approved in the US. You can use one as an IN only but must turn off the OUT function. I had one in my Aeronca Chief until I sold it last year. The Chief was non electric and could not operate a certified ADSB OUT unit. It just suction cups to the windshield and fed the IN data to my WingsX iPad. Was great. And…..I did “test” the OUT frequently. ATC could pick me up but with a slightly different electronic display, and other aircraft could see me on their IN. Research with my FSDO indicated the FAA had no issues with this unit. It was an FCC refusal to approve issue. Google Sky Echo 2. Sentry sells an IN only device that is identical in appearance to the Sky Echo 2. I assumed uAvionix is building it for them. While “testing ” my Sky Echo 2, I did feel a bit more secure in that other IN aircraft around me could now see me….since no one is any longer looking out the windows.

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