Flightstar Corporation, an aviation service organisation located at the University of Illinois-Willard airport in Champaign, Illinois, has received STC approval from the FAA and Transport Canada for the software upgrade of Universal Avionics (UA) UNS-1Ew SBAS-FMS units in Bombardier Learjet 40 and Learjet 45 aircraft.

The Flightstar STC installs UA FMS software control number (SCN) 1002.3 to correct the VNAV pitch issues discussed in the Bombardier advisory wire AW22-009 titled ‘Pitch Oscillation During Approach'. This known issue can occur during the final approach segment of an LPV and LNAV/VNAV approach. The SCN 1002.3 update is available to both single or dual UNS-1Ew SBAS-FMS installations. Operators are offered two configuration options, with or without the addition of Localizer Performance (LP) approach capabilities. Installation completed at Flightstar starts at $23,000 for the non-LP configuration. The price includes new FMS batteries and a five-day average, door-to-door turnaround on the FMS units.

Aircraft equipped with the Flightstar CPDLC FANS STC can now utilise push-to-load en route functionality when incorporating the SCN STC. This function allows for automatic loading of information received from air traffic control via Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications (CPDLC) into the FMS flight plan.