Duncan Aviation’s Fort Lauderdale Satellite Shop Upgrades Challenger 604 for ADS-B Compliance

LINCOLN, NEB — Duncan Aviation is pleased to announce that its Satellite Avionics Shop in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has upgraded the Rockwell Collins TDR-94D transponders on a Challenger 604, bringing the aircraft into compliance with the FAA’s mandate for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Out.

Using the Approved Model List Supplemental Type Certificate (AML-STC) for Part 25 aircraft developed by CMD Flight Solutions, the team in Fort Lauderdale upgraded the TDR-94D transponders and installed two annunciators  and a monitoring box.

“CMD saw the need for low-cost, meet-the-mandate solutions, and our three AML STCs have provided Duncan Aviation with a certification path for legacy aircraft,” says Barb Mahoney, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at CMD Flight Solutions.  

Fort Lauderdale Shop Manager Brian Redondo and his team completed the installation in less than a week. Although not a first for Duncan Aviation, it was the first time the solution has been installed at the company’s Ft. Lauderdale location. Redondo’s customers appreciate this STC because it’s one of the most affordable options on the market.

“The 604 dropped in on a Friday, and we did the incoming checks and shipped the transponders to Lincoln that same day,” says Redondo. “We did the required modifications in the aircraft on the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The upgraded transponders arrived on Thursday, and we installed them and performed the final checkout that day, too. It couldn’t have gone better, and the pilots were pleased to have their aircraft back so quickly.”

Duncan Aviation’s Avionics Shop in Lincoln, Nebraska, has been authorized to upgrade the Rockwell Collins TDR-94/D units. The Satellite teams ship the units to Lincoln, and with advanced scheduling, the Lincoln team can turn the units in as little as one day, which dramatically decreases downtime for customers. 

“The timing was great for doing this ADS-B upgrade, and we got the transponders back in the timeframe that worked for our customers,” says Redondo. “The pilots had gone to get their recurrent pilot training, and they were gone for a week. It was the perfect time to put their aircraft down and get the mods done.”

In the 29 remaining months before the FAA’s deadline to comply with its ADS-B mandate, roughly 70% of the business jet aircraft flying still have to upgrade for ADS-B. Today, Duncan Aviation’s extensive Satellite network has capacity and labor resources and will allocate hangar space and labor resources for owner/operators who call now to reserve space through the rest of 2017 and into 2018 and 2019. The closer the deadline gets, the less capacity (labor and hangar space) qualified shops are going to have. Duncan Aviation is urging its customers to schedule hangar space now for necessary upgrades; no one wants to be AOG on January 1, 2020.

In addition to the AML-STC CMD Flight Solutions has earned, Mahoney says they have solutions for aircraft based outside the United States as well. “We’ve secured validation from several civil aviation authorities, including the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Mexico’s Direccion General de Aviacion Civil (DGAC), and Brazil’s Agencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil (ANAC), and our Part 25 TDR-94/94D STC has been successfully evaluated by Transport Canada on the Lear 60. Approval for all Learjet models is expected soon, with other aircraft to follow,” says Mahoney. “This validation will help the many Duncan Aviation customers who are flying into the United States; they’ll be able to continue to fly in U.S. airspace after the mandate deadline.”

If you’re near the Duncan Aviation Fort Lauderdale Satellite Shop, give Brian Redondo a call (954.771.6007). To reserve a slot at one of the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shops near you, call any of the Satellite shops (www.duncanaviation.aero/locations/#satellites).

About CMD Flight Solutions

CMD Flight Solutions was formed to develop, market and provide FAA certified solutions to support NextGen Avionics mandates. CMD also assists service and installation facilities with cost-effective modification solutions to satisfy the upcoming FAA mandated requirements. For more information, visit www.CMDFlightSolutions.com.

About Duncan Aviation

Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of business aircraft operators, government agencies, and other aircraft service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit avionics systems, full paint and interior services, engineering and certification services, fabrication and manufacturing services, and preowned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has international aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at +1 402.475.4125 who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory repairs and overhauls. Complete service facilities are located in Battle Creek, Michigan; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Provo, Utah. We also have dozens of other facilities strategically located throughout the United States to provide customers with scheduled regional support and the quickest response possible to avionics, engine and airframe Aircraft On Ground (AOG) situations.

For more information about any of Duncan Aviation’s services, call +1 402.475.2611 or visit https://www.DuncanAviation.aero/services