LA County Fire Department Air Operations (LACOFD) has selected Becker Avionics' ADS-B BXT6500 series transponder for retrofitting its fleet of helicopters. LACOFD operates Bell B412 and Sikorsky S-70 helicopters and with the FAA ADS-B mandated deadline of 1 January 2020 quickly approaching, the operator has selected the mission capable BXT transponder to become compliant. The installation took approximately 30 hours and was accomplished by LACOFD's own maintenance department.

Senior consultant Lee Benson comments: “LACOFD is a world-class public safety operator that demands the most capable equipment to accomplish its missions safely. The BXT6500 series replaces its existing Becker transponders that have worked for 18 years with minimal maintenance.”

The BXT6500 transponder series is a robust, cost-effective and ADS-B compliant transponder that has a reduced size and weight, durable housing without ventilation slots or forced cooling, antenna diversity or single antenna configurations, digital interfaces, TCAS compatibility and special mission capabilities.

United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods, has also selected Becker Avionics' ADS-B transponder and digital audio ICS, the DVCS6100 for a Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk completion currently underway for a public safety operator.

Senior manager of government business development Art Torwirt says: “We are focused on providing leading edge aircraft that meet our customer's unique mission requirements. Becker Avionics has been a terrific partner providing mission capable ADS-B transponders, digital audio ICS systems and outstanding on-site product support for our Firehawk programme.”

Becker says the DVCS6100 is a mission proven, NVIS capable, high performance intercom system with good audio quality and many unique operational functions. The intuitive HMI facilitates reliable communication for all aircraft types.