Press Release

Issued by ForeFlight.

July 10, 2018

ForeFlight, the creator of the widely used ForeFlight mobile integrated flight app, today announced the availability of Sentry, a next-generation portable ADS-B In receiver. In addition to essential FIS-B weather, flight information, traffic, and backup attitude, Sentry adds a carbon monoxide monitor and alarm, a 12-hour battery, and a high-capacity data card for Weather Replay and storage. Sentry is packaged in the smallest form factor yet for a device this capable.

Retailing at $499 USD, Sentry is the most affordable full-featured off-the-shelf portable ADS-B In solution available on the market.

“Sentry is a compact, powerful, next-generation portable ADS-B receiver made possible by new technology and engineering ingenuity. Purpose-built ADS-B integrated circuits, for example, have made it possible to shrink the size, reduce power consumption, extend the battery life, add new capabilities, and lower the cost. We've streamlined and compressed the communications between ForeFlight Mobile and Sentry, which results in the more efficient use of Sentry's processors and extended battery life,” said Tyson Weihs, ForeFlight co-founder and CEO. “We want every ForeFlight pilot flying with the benefits ADS-B has to offer. With Sentry, ForeFlight pilots have a powerful suite of capabilities available at a compelling price that will improve situational awareness and safety in the cockpit.”

ForeFlight and Palo Alto-based uAvionix teamed up to design and manufacture Sentry.

“With Sentry, uAvionix and ForeFlight have created the most advanced portable flight safety device on the market, enabling in-flight traffic and weather, synthetic vision, and toxic CO detection all for the equivalent cost to a couple of hours of flight time,” says uAvionix CEO Paul Beard. “We continue to be proud partners with ForeFlight on such an important advancement in the next generation of ADS-B In portables.”

A first for portable ADS-B receivers, Sentry provides a cockpit carbon monoxide sensor and alerting system. When CO concentration reaches a hazardous level, Sentry emits a loud, distinctive alarm. In addition, within the ForeFlight app an audio alert can be heard through compatible headsets, and an alert message is displayed on the screen. The middle LED indicator on Sentry also provides a visual indication of the CO level.

Sentry supports the full range of FIS-B weather and data, including animated regional and CONUS NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, AIR/SIGMETs, PIREPs, winds and temps aloft, TFRs, NOTAMs, and SUA information. Sentry can also receive air-to-air traffic information from ADS-B Out equipped aircraft and re-broadcast traffic information (ADS-R and TIS-B) from FAA ground towers. As they become available, Sentry will also support the new FIS-B weather products to include icing, turbulence, cloud tops, lightning, G-AIRMETs, and CWAs in a future ForeFlight Mobile release.

Sentry has onboard memory to support Weather Replay which provides automatic storage of up to 30-minutes of FIS-B data. It is possible to sleep the iPad and then receive a burst of updates when the iPad wakes. If there is more than one iPad connected, each iPad will be synced to have the same data replayed. ForeFlight will also animate ADS-B radar, looping up to 30-minutes of radar while in flight.

Sentry has a compact form factor at 57mm x 83mm x 36mm (2.2in x 3.3in x 1.4in) and weighs in at 119 grams (0.26 lbs). The dual ADS-B antennas are optimized for 978 MHz and 1090 MHz frequencies and are integrated into the device. The traffic awareness capability functions worldwide.

Sentry is easy to setup and use; there's no hardware to assemble, no software to download. Simply position the sturdy RAM mount on any window surface and snap Sentry into place. Sentry's internal Lithium-ion battery offers over 12-hours of continuous use so pilots can fly all day without recharging.

Customers can connect their iPad or iPhone directly to Sentry's integrated Wi-Fi network and receive inflight subscription-free ADS-B weather and traffic information, GPS data, backup attitude, and pressure altitude displayed in the ForeFlight Mobile app.

Sentry supports up to five devices as well as Cockpit Sharing, a feature that enables users to share routes easily between all devices on Sentry's network. It's perfect for a co-pilot or CFI to follow-along and monitor weather and traffic.

Over-the-air firmware updates are delivered through ForeFlight Mobile and completed in a matter of seconds, future-proofing Sentry and ensuring it remains a cockpit resource for a long time to come.

All ForeFlight subscription plans support connectivity with Sentry. Customers can purchase Sentry at the ForeFlight exhibit (Hangar C) at this year's EAA AirVenture or online at Amazon.