SkyGuard TWX and the FAA - iFly General Discussions

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SkyGuard TWX and the FAA

6/4/2015 7:19 AM

Tim Myers

Joined: 12/8/2011

Posts: 286

Re: SkyGuard TWX and the FAA

I mentioned a couple times that it was a portable device and that the owner was actively pursuing TSO. When he said it was 100% fail on Baro Altitude I asid "well yeah" it isn't connected to my encoder and wasn't meant to be.

Don's explanation on his blog makes sense and fits what I knew of the process he is in. I have offered to pass on the name of the gentleman that called me so he can talk to the contact Don has with the FAA that who agrees the Skyguard use is in compliance with the current regs. Out of respect for his privacy I won't list the guys nane or e-mail openly.

For all who have read this please do something for me!!! Don't interpret this as anything against my Skyguard unit or Don. I only reported because I know of quite a few here that use the Skyguard unit and wanted to give them a heads up. I also reported it on Don's website for the same reason. If I can help get the party at the FAA that is in agreement with Don's stance to talk to the party that is calling people and get this resolved I am happy to do so.

6/4/2015 12:15 PM

citabriabob

Joined: 4/14/2010

Posts: 156

Re: SkyGuard TWX and the FAA

I suggest you bring this to the attention of AOPA and EAA.

Robert Szego
Bellanca-Champion Club http://www.bellanca-championclub.com
Aeronca Aviators Club http://www.aeronca.org

6/4/2015 2:53 PM

Tim Myers

Joined: 12/8/2011

Posts: 286

Re: SkyGuard TWX and the FAA

I have e-mailed with Don about this and he is working on it. I will let you know if he makes any headway. As for going to AOPA or EAA, I will let him do that if he wants. I am one guy with an airplane and they know exactly where I fly!!!!!!

6/4/2015 3:11 PM

Cobra

Joined: 4/20/2011

Posts: 2602

Re: SkyGuard TWX and the FAA

A long time ago, I used the "FAA ADSB performance assessment" email "service" to get a read on how compliant/non-compliant my SkyGuardTWX was.

The response I got was: "Requested report attached. Per FAA policy, portable transceivers should be configured to transmit a System Integrity Level (SIL) = 0 (ref. page 4 of report) to prevent data transmitted by uncertified ADS-B avionics (including GPS) from being processed by ATC and other ADS-B In equipped aircraft. Please contact Skyguard for information to configure your transceiver to transmit a SIL of zero."

I happen to live nearby to Don, so I flew to his home field, and in the FBO lobby he flashed the firmware in my box to change the SIL output to 0. A subsequent email to the FAA ADSB folks came back with a response that my SkyGuardTWX setup was outputting SIL=0, so the FAA was happy.

Could this be the same issue they're griping at you about, or are they griping about something new?

I haven't flown in about a month, but I always have the SkyGuardTWX on and broadcasting, and I'm constantly hitting ADSB towers, and so far (knock on wood) they haven't contacted me.