General aviation avionics specialist Garmin International has announced a surprise takeover of UPS Aviation Technologies, the United Parcel Service (UPS) subsidiary that has been at the forefront of developing automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) flight safety technology.
Following completion of the $38 million buy-out, expected during the third quarter, UPS Aviation Technologies will change its name to Garmin AT, and will continue operating from its Salem, Oregon, base as a Garmin International subsidiary. Garmin's move follows a string of recent successes for the fast growing Kansas-based avionics maker including, last April, the selection of its G1000 avionics suite for Cessna's entry-level Citation Mustang.
The acquisition of UPS Aviation Technologies, and particularly the ADS-B system and CNX80 GPS satellite navigation receiver, will complement Garmin's portfolio and extend its market penetration with original equipment manufacturers and retrofit customers. UPS recently obtained US Federal Aviation Administration certification for a new cockpit display that combines ADS-B and traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) technologies. Its CNX80 system also recently became the first integrated panel-mounted device certificated by the FAA for primary navigation using the FAA's wide area augmentation system.
UPS Airlines president Tom Weidemeyer says: "Our decision to sell is based on the fact that our airline has matured and ongoing development and marketing of aviation technology is not part of the long-term strategic direction of UPS."
The express package carrier is currently installing TCAS and ADS-B systems on its Boeing 757 and 767 fleets following the decision by the FAA in 2002 not to allow it to use ADS-B only to meet its "see-and-avoid" requirements.
Source: Flight International
