uAvionix Corporation,  a provider of communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) solutions for manned and unmanned aircraft, announced today that its Zero Install tailBeacon EXP is now available for sale at the introductory price of $1,649. TailBeacon EXP is available currently for experimental and light sport aircraft (LSA), and is expected to achieve TSO certification by the end of September.

TailBeacon is the second in a family of Zero Install ADS-B OUT solutions from uAvionix. It combines ADS-B OUT, WAAS GPS, Barometric Pressure Altitude Sensor and LED tail position lights into a compact tail position light replacement unit. With two screws and two wires – installation is complete in minutes. TailBeacon is fully 14 CFR 91.227 “ADS-B mandate” compliant. uAvionix is leveraging its skyBeacon certification efforts for the tailBeacon.

“The tailBeacon is nearly a carbon copy of skyBeacon. As this is largely a repackaging effort – we expect certification to be achieved very quickly,” states Ryan Braun, company COO. “While working on the certification for skyBeacon, we’ve been preparing the TSO package for tailBeacon as well.”

The certified device will consist of:

• ADS-B (TSO C-154c, Class B1S)
• WAAS GPS (TSO-C145d, Class Beta 1)
• Barometric Pressure Altitude Sensor (TSO-C88b)
• Tail Position Light (TSO-C30c, Type III)

Preorders are being taken for Certified tailBeacon at www.uavionix.com/products/tailbeacon and through the company’s distributor network. Similar to skyBeacon, tailBeacon allows installation in minutes by simply removing the current tail position light and replacing it with the tailBeacon. The existing wiring and circuit breaker provide power and interface to the existing Mode C or S transponder through uAvionix’s patent pending power transcoder. No airframe modifications, additional wires or antennas are required. As an added bonus, the upgraded LED position lights deliver increased safety and night visibility at no additional cost. Broadcasting on the UAT/978MHz frequency, tailBeacon offers rule compliant operation up to FL180 within the U.S.

“With the introduction of skyBeacon, we received feedback from many pilots who simply couldn’t fit it on their wing,” said CEO Paul Beard. “The tailBeacon is meant to address those aircraft that skyBeacon can’t reach – such as newer aircraft with enclosed wingtip position lights.”