Appareo, a local company that specializes in designing and manufacturing electronics and software for aerospace and agriculture, announced the release of a product they call the Stratus ESG transponder this week. Not usually a big deal, except that this product launch is the culmination of over five years of work.
“This… is huge,” said marketing manager April Steffan. “We’ve been working on this product for years.”
The Stratus ESG transponder is basically a radio used for communication between aircraft and ground stations. It’s a tool that fulfills a mandate set by the Federal Aviation Administration nicknamed the “2020 mandate”; one that requires all aircraft to be equipped with a piece of communication tech called Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) by January 1, 2020.
“The reason they’re doing it is for more safety in the air,” Steffan said, explaining the new tech allows for more accurate information.
According to the FAA, ADS-B technology is a step towards preparing aviation for future satellite technology.
“It forms the foundation for NextGen by moving from ground radar and navigational aids to precise tracking using satellite signals,” FAA writes on their website.
Unsurprisingly, however, many pilots saw the mandate as a complete hassle. The thought that without that tool, certain aircraft could be grounded and unable to fly, prompted Appareo to begin working on this release.
On July 5, 2016, the product received Technical Standard Order (TSO) authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Big win.
For Appareo, who has made most of their name in the agriculture field, this is a significant step into the world of certified avionics. It’s an industry dominated by companies over 20 years old, Steffan said. Appareo is the first to bring a new offering to the table in quite a while — and the most affordable as well, she said. The Stratus ESG transponder basic option is $2,995, with an upgraded option that includes both in and out communication available for $3,495.
To sell a product that is certified by the FAA has its fair share of hurdles, something Steffan summarizes by simply saying it was “quite the undertaking.” In fact, that’s the reason not many companies have ventured into the realm of certified avionics, she said; frankly, it’s too much work.
But despite the project taking over five years, the team still considers the time worth it , Steffan said.
And now, the harvest has begun. The Stratus is currently being shipped out to Appareo’s 280 dealers across the nation (including the Fargo Jet Center). And if Steffan’s hints are correct, it’s not the last that pilots will be seeing of the Appareo brand.
“Now that we’ve reached this milestone, other things are in development,” she said. “We’ve got some other products in the pipeline.”
Photo courtesy of Appareo Systems.
