China Eastern Airlines to Equip Boeing 737 Fleet with Thales DO-260B-Compliant Transponders

China Eastern Airlines have chosen Thales/ACSS to equip their B737 fleet with the NXT-800 DO-260B-compliant transponders to meet the CAAC’s (Civil Aviation Administration of China) ADS-B Out mandate.

This is the first inter-mix configuration retrofit with the Boeing Service Bulletin for DO-260B mandate in China, Thales Aerospace said in a release on September 24.

Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) is a surveillance technology enabling aircraft to transmit large amounts of information to air traffic control or any system equipped to receive and decode information broadcast by onboard transponders. The NXT-800 DO-260B compliant transponders and their ADS-B Out capabilities can reduce or replace the need for a traditional combination of primary and secondary radar systems, providing more detailed information, faster update rates and more accurate positional information, all of which significantly increase flight safety and efficiency. Additionally, ADS-B ground stations are a fraction of the cost of radar stations, enabling remote areas with limited surveillance infrastructure and capabilities to get a full view of their airspace at a much lower cost.

In view of these benefits, ADS-B Out has become a mandatory function for civil aviation in many regions of the world. Chinese commercial and general aviation operators have taken initiatives to undertake the DO-260B compliance retrofits to meet the CAAC DO-260B mandate due by the end of 2022.