What are the current and future European requirements for Mode S transponders?
In 1999, the European aviation regulatory agency mandated Mode S transponders for all IFR Flights by April 2003. Furthermore, it was mandated that all VFR flights use Mode S transponders by April 2005. This requirement includes the installation of a Level 2 Mode S Transponder which can downlink aircraft parameters to air traffic control thus reducing the interrogation workload of ATC. With a Level 2 Mode S transponder, ATC can obtain details of an aircraft such as position, velocity, altitude, and attitude. Of course, there are other systems within the aircraft that provide this information but the transponder will provide a means for the aircraft to communicate this information to ATC. Currently, Southeast Aerospace offers three different Level 2 Mode S transponders- Bendix/King Remote mount MST-67A, Bendix/King Panel mount KT-73, and Garmin Panel mount GTX-330.
Answer In 1999, the European aviation regulatory agency mandated Mode S transponders for all IFR Flights by April 2003. Furthermore, it was mandated that all VFR flights use Mode S transponders by April 2005. This requirement includes the installation of a Level 2 Mode S Transponder which can downlink aircraft parameters to air traffic control thus reducing the interrogation workload of ATC. With a Level 2 Mode S transponder, ATC can obtain details of an aircraft such as position, velocity, altitude, and attitude. Of course, there are other systems within the aircraft that provide this information but the transponder will provide a means for the aircraft to communicate this information to ATC. Currently, Southeast Aerospace offers three different Level 2 Mode S transponders- Bendix/King Remote mount MST-67A, Bendix/King Panel mount KT-73, and Garmin Panel mount GTX-330.
