Duncan Aviation has performed its first ADS-B upgrade on a Piaggio P-180 Avanti. The work, conducted by the company’s satellite avionics shop in Sacramento, California, used the AML-STC for Part 23 aircraft developed by CMD Flight Solutions. It involved an upgrade of the Rockwell Collins TDR-94D, installation of an annunciator, rewiring of the inputs for the GPS and replacement of the GPS 4000A with the more accurate GPS 4000S Waas sensor.

The STC covers Part 23 aircraft with the Pro Line 21 cockpit, including the Avanti, Beechcraft King Airs and Premiers and 500-series Cessna Citations. Some earlier P-180s had a single transponder; the MRO can install a dual transponder upgrade as well.

“One of the reasons our Piaggio customers especially like this STC is because we’re upgrading the existing system and keeping the original equipment intact,” said Sacramento shop manager Bob Hazy. “That’s important to them because it retains the value of their aircraft.”

The facility is currently working on its second Piaggio upgrade and, according to Hazy, in most cases the process can be completed in a week.