LHT receives approval for transponder modification for Airbus A320 Family

Lufthansa Technik AG has received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for modifications on the Airbus A320 Family aircraft to fit them with second-generation “Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast” (ADS-B) transponders. Completion of this modern airspace surveillance technology modification by 2020 has been prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The aviation authorities require that, in future, all aircraft can be traced worldwide using GPS-based aircraft data. Lufthansa Technik can now equip the first customer aircraft with the new transponders, which fulfill the DO-260 B RTCA (Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics) standard. Compared to conventional surface-based radar monitoring, the new technology will significantly improve the localization of aircraft and therefore airspace safety. In the course of modification, it may also be necessary to replace the GPS signal source.