Flying Colours first to install combined Rockwell Collins FANS 1/A and ADS-B Out Solution on Canadian registered aircraft.

Flying Colours Corp. has redelivered the first Canadian registered aircraft to have the Rockwell Collins network’s Future Airspace Navigation System (FANS) 1/A upgrade installed in combination with Flying Colours ADS-B solution.  The FANS 1/A system, which is available through Rockwell Collins dealers, will improve operating costs, whilst the addition of the soon to be mandatory ADS-B Out technology will help maintain asset value.

This is the first time that a Canadian registered Bombardier Challenger 604 aircraft will have had this particular FANS 1/A solution, and the Flying Colours’ ADS-B Out solution, installed during a single upgrade at the Flying Colours, Bombardier Authorized Service Facility in Peterborough. The private owner requested the system’s modernization as part of a scheduled 48-month maintenance inspection with the full range of enhancements being completed in just under two months. The aircraft was returned to the customer on 3rd August.

The ADS-B Out technology was installed under the existing Flying Colours STC which the Canadian headquartered business owns for this type of aircraft along with the STC for the Challenger 300 & 605 types. Flying Colours secured approval from the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) department to install ADS-B OUT technology on Canadian registered Bombardier Challenger 600-2B16 (604 and 605) and 300 airframes in January of this year. Whilst the new TCCA STC covering FANS 1/A complements the existing US FAA certification. To date the Flying Colours developed ADS-B Out STC for the Challenger 605/604, and Challenger 300 models, has been installed on more than 20 aircraft.

“The combined installation was relatively straight forward as we are very familiar with the Challenger family,” says Sean Gillespie, Executive VP of Flying Colours Corp. “It made complete sense for our customer to include these enhancements in a 48-month inspection as it reduces downtime and the overall expense,” he adds. “We’ve quickly become the go-to completions center for mandatory avionics upgrades on Bombardier Challenger 300, 604 and 605 types having secured our STC early. With Flying Colours ASF status and extensive avionics experience working on these aircraft types, we are well positioned to support local and international customers.”

During this year’s Canadian Business Aviation Association’s meeting in Abbotsford, BC from 9 to 11 August – Booth 349 - the Flying Colours team will be advising visitors on the best options for avionics upgrades to support the installation of ADS- B Out, as well as showcasing their maintenance, refurbishment, completion and special mission capabilities.