ACR/Artex
www.acrartex.com
Lost and found go hand-in-hand with ACR's ResQLink and AquaLink Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)---full-powered, GPS-enabled rescue devices operating on the 406 MHz band. As with all PLBs, each has a discreet emergency code, and when activated, gives SAR personnel access to information about its owner, speeding rescues. The ultra-portable ResQLink weighs a slight 4.6 ounces and is less than four inches in length. The ResQLink+, though slightly larger and heavier (4.5 inches; 5.4 ounces), is buoyant, providing more peace of mind when operating over water. The AquaLink series has three levels of integrated signaling technology, with a 121.5 MHz homing signal in addition to GPS positioning and 406 MHz transmission. The AquaLink View includes a digital screen that displays GPS LAT/LON when activated, along with operating tips, battery life and other information. Accurate to within 100 meters, both AquaLink models are buoyant and include an LED strobe light. Having led to the rescue of some 35,000 people since 1982, ACR recently started a "Survivor's Club" to highlight the stories of some. "The best spokesperson for our products are people who have used them," says Director of Sales--Aviation Mike Schmidt. The ResQLink models are priced in the mid-$200s, and the AquaLinks about $400 each.

Adventure Pilot
www.iflygps.com
Adventure Pilot's iFly 720 GPS and complementary apps for both Android and iPad are "the most affordable way to have a dedicated portable GPS, as well as a tablet solution, without the need to relearn anything," says VP Business Development Shane Woodson. The virtual panel and the nav data displays on the iFly 720's seven-inch sunlight-readable LCD screen are easily customized, right down to text size. Simple, intuitive operation lets pilots get needed information quickly and get back to flying the aircraft. "We continually aim to reduce the eye hunting and the amount of screen touches to complete a function," says Woodson. The iFly 720 and its Android and Apple apps support ADS-B receivers and transceivers including Dual, Clairity, iLevil, SkyRadar and NavWorx, providing access to FAA weather and traffic data. When paired with the Texas company's Vision-Pro ADS-B Transceiver, the solutions represent the first GPS and app with an integrated ADS-B Control Panel for changing squawk codes and performing the ident function, Woodson says. The iFly 720 Moving Map GPS is $699. The iFly 520, the company's newest portable model, features a five-inch sunlight-readable screen with georeferenced VFR and IFR charts and plates, and internal battery, for $399. Data subscriptions, with comprehensive and simple updating capability, are $69.99 VFR or $109.99 IFR/VFR per year. A Multi-Platform Upgrade ($19.99) enables a mix of three devices (iFly, iOS, Android) on one subscription.

DeLorme
www.delorme.com
DeLorme's inReach Explorer, newest of its flagship inReach handheld Satcom line, is the first personal satellite communicator to combine navigation capabilities with global SOS alerting, GPS tracking and two-way text messaging in one rugged, waterproof device. Users can send and receive 160-character text messages, track and share their journeys with family and friends, and transmit interactive emergency messages anywhere in the world through the Iridium satellite network. Using DeLorme's online Explore portal, pilots can use inReach for flight planning and share trip details through the site's personalized MapShare pages or via social media. Those following the trip can exchange messages and ping users between tracking intervals. In the event of an emergency, inReach automatically triggers remote tracking and allows users to communicate via text with responders at the international 24/7 search-and-rescue monitoring center, ensuring prompt response with appropriate resources. Suggested retail price for inReach Explorer is $379.

Also new from DeLorme this year are contract-free service plans, eliminating the need to commit to a full year of monthly charges. These Freedom Plans can be deactivated and reactivated quickly, and all user data is automatically saved when the device is deactivated. Freedom Plans range from $14.95 per month for safety service to $99.95 per month for the top service level. Standard annual plans range from $11.95 to $79.95 per month.

Bad Elf
www.bad-elf.com
Bad Elf makes Apple-approved external GPS receivers for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Available in both plug-in and Bluetooth product lines, the receivers work with major EFB apps (ForeFlight, WingX, JeppFD, Garmin Pilot) and any other location-based apps in the iTunes App Store, says Brett Hackleman, the company's CTO and Partner. For plug-in GPSs, Bad Elf offers the 30-pin and Lightning models. The Lightning, launched late last year for Apple's new Lightning Connector, includes the latest GPS+GLONASS chipset. Deriving their power from the mobile devices, the plug-in units require no charging and configuration/pairing is automatic. Both types of plug-ins cost about $99 each.

The Bluetooth-enabled Bad Elf GPS Pro can support up to five iPads simultaneously. Its extremely sensitive GPS antenna will get and keep a lock, even in aircraft with heated windows, such as Learjets, that are notoriously unfriendly to GPS signals. The GPS Pro has a 24- to 32-hour battery life (replenished in 3.5 hours of charging) and a 100+ hour internal data logger. Released about 18 months ago and priced at approximately $149, Bad Elf has been adding new features via firmware updates every few months. The company will launch an upgraded version, the GPS Pro+, scheduled to ship by Oshkosh. The Pro+ will include GLONASS support, internal data logger capacity of 200+ hours, and a barometric pressure and temperature sensor for enhanced altitude and variometer accuracy, and be priced at about $249.

AvMap
www.avmap.us
The EKP V portable glass cockpit "redefines the role of the GPS in the cockpit," says AvMap's Grant Farrell. Only 0.8 inches thick, the handheld GPS has a sunlight-readable seven-inch display screen and comes loaded with georeferenced Jeppesen chart and airport data, Seattle Aviation approach plates and taxiway diagrams, and FAA sectionals. Panel integration is enabled via optional Cockpit Cradle Kit or a docking station that allows the EKP V to connect to autopilot, weather sources, video camera and other cockpit devices. AvMap has purposely retained the EKP V's hard keys rather than migrate to touch-screen technology. "In turbulent weather, it's a little more stable," Farrell says. The unit features a full qwerty virtual keyboard with a configurable key, progressive joystick and a smart wheel selector. The screen is fully customizable enabling the pilot to select what and how information---TAWS, vertical profile, nav data and more---is displayed. The EKP V is also compatible with RocketRoute and iFlightPlanner flight-planning tools. Price is $1,750.

Dual Electronics
www.gps.dualav.com
Dual Electronics' compact Dual XGPS170 features a WAAS GPS and ADS-B receiver, delivering weather (FIS-B) and traffic (ADS-R/TIS-B) to EFB apps on iPad and Android tablets. The most widely supported ADS-B receiver on the market, the Dual XGPS170 connects wirelessly, via Bluetooth, to two iPad, iPod touch, iPhone or Android devices simultaneously, while the built-in rechargeable battery (12-30VDC adapter included) delivers up to six hours of continuous use. Greg Lukins, the company's VP of Business Development, points out that for a more permanent installation, the ADS-B antenna can be removed, and the unit can be hardwired to an external dedicated antenna. For use with car and marine navigation apps, use the receiver in GPS-only mode. Subscription-free weather, dependable and accurate GPS, and the widest choice of EFB apps coupled with Apple and Android compatibility make the XGPS170 ($549) a great handheld or semi-permanent solution.

Dynon Avionics
www.dynonavionics.com
Dynon's sunlight-readable D1 and D2 pocket panels add life-saving redundancy to glass and steam gauge cockpits. Identical in size and battery life, the D2 adds WiFi radio that transmits attitude and GPS, and also adds a second display page presenting an analog G meter with maximum and minimum load recording---great for aerobatic pilots! Data from either unit can feed iPads with compatible apps including WingX Pro and AOPA FlyQ, iHud Remote. "We think we can save lives in partial panel [situations]," says Michael Schofield, Dynon's marketing manager. Both products include a pinch-mount cradle that can be placed into and taken out of a standard 31⁄8-inch panel instrument hole without tools or hardware, providing the stability of a permanent installation while maintaining complete portability, thus navigating clear of regulatory grey areas. "The FAA doesn't allow permanently mounted portables in certified aircraft panels," says Schofield. Both products use the same ADAHRS technology used in Dynon's highly regarded experimental aircraft panel products, which utilize higher-quality sensors than those found in cell phones and mobile devices. The units also use the company's proprietary software and algorithms, which Schofield terms "our secret sauce," to re-create flight conditions reflected on the porta-panels moment by moment. The D1 is priced at $1,195 and the D2 at $1,425.

Icom America
www.icomamerica.com
Icom America's handheld transceivers have been GA pilots' trusty backup radio for decades. Today, the mega transceiver manufacturer offers its A14, A6 and A24 units for aviation applications. The entry-level A14 features a Li-Ion battery that delivers 24 hours of battery life. The A6 and the A24 include a built-in VOR function, useful for checking location or emergency navigation. The A6 and A24 have headset adapters so they can be used with headsets, and plugged into audio panels. All three units have five watts of power. The A14 is priced under $200, the A6 is $249 and the A24 is $299. "We build all our radios to mil spec," says David McLain, Icom's national sales manager for marine and aviation. "That's why you pay a little more. We spend all that money and time to do the testing where nobody else does."

Garmin
www.garmin.com
Whether the question is portable GPS or portable datalink, Garmin has answers with its GLO and GDL39/GDL393D receivers. The GLO ($99) provides GPS data from both the GPS and GLONASS satellite constellations (hence the product's name) via Bluetooth to iOS and Android mobile devices. The GLONASS satellite constellation offers connection to up to 24 more satellites than the GPS network, enabling GLO to lock on to satellites 20% faster than GPS-alone devices. A recent software update enables GLO's pairing with four mobile devices simultaneously.

For owners of Garmin Pilot EFBs, the GDL 39 ($599) and GDL 39 3D ($849) datalink receivers offer subscription-free FIS-B weather products such as NEXRAD, METARs, TAFs, winds/temps aloft, PIREPs and NOTAMs in the cockpit, along with ADS-B traffic and a built-in WAAS GPS receiver. Both GDL 39 units connect via Bluetooth to Garmin Pilot and the aera 795/796. The GDL 39 3D, introduced in January, adds a solid-state attitude sensor and receives traffic information on both the 978 UAT and 1090 ES frequencies. (The GDL 39 3D provides the display of back-up attitude information and SVX---synthetic vision---in Garmin Pilot.) As for multitasking, the 3D can Bluetooth to two devices and be hardwired to a third device simultaneously.

Spidertracks
www.Spidertracks.com
The Spider S3 and recently introduced Spider S5 from Australia's Spidertracks are simple, portable tracking devices designed for "organizations to manage all their aircraft in one space at a low cost," says company spokesperson K.T. Dallison. The plug-and-go units feature near real-time reporting (five- to 15-second delay) of detailed position information that can be transmitted as often as one per minute. Connection via the Iridium satellite network provides pole-to-pole coverage. The Spiders can send up to four preloaded messages to chosen recipients and can be hardwired or powered via a cigarette lighter. Both the S3 and S5 ($995 and $1,795 respectively) are compact, light and NVG compatible, and have a simple keypad. The S5 adds Bluetooth capability and allows users to use an iOS device as an external keypad and communicate using the company's proprietary SpiderTXT messaging system. The Spidertracks service plans are designed for low-, medium- and high-use operators, with flexibility to choose custom reporting options. In the past year, the company has also overhauled and upgraded its Web-based front-end Spidertracks system.

Sporty's Pilot Shop
www.sportys.com
Sporty's Pilot Shop has updated its popular SP-400 Handheld NAV/COM transceiver and Stratus 2 ADS-B Receiver. Sporty's calls the SP-400 "the ultimate backup radio," thanks to its flip-flop COM, full VOR navigation, ILS display and NOAA weather radio. Designed for aviation use, it features larger buttons and screen than conventional handheld radios, yet can be operated with one hand. "The emphasis is on making a radio that pilots can use in an emergency without an instruction manual," says Sporty's Mark Wiesenhahn. Recent updates to the SP-400 include a new higher-resolution screen with better sunlight readability and adjustable backlight, along with a reduced price: $369.

Sporty's Stratus 2 ADS-B Receiver ($899) delivers subscription-free weather, ADS-B traffic, WAAS GPS information and backup attitude to iPads. Designed for integration with the ForeFlight Mobile app, the unit requires no wires or external antennas for operation and operates for eight hours on battery power. This year, Sporty's updated the Stratus 2, adding a split-screen attitude indicator display in ForeFlight and animated NEXRAD radar. The online pilot shop also added Stratus Replay, which allows users to turn off the iPad screen to extend battery life, then receive all missed weather data when the iPad is turned back on.

Baron Services
www.baronservices.com
The Mobile Link from Baron Services of Huntsville, Ala., is the only device currently available that can bring XM WX Satellite Weather data to an iPad, says Cindy Wester of Baron Services. Satellite weather service subscribers can run compatible apps, available through the iTunes store, on their iOS mobile devices, allowing the information to be displayed on an iPad or iPhone. The Mobile Link can connect to up to four devices simultaneously. The Mobile Link is available through the WxWorx store for $199.99.

BendixKing
www.bendixking.com
The KLR 10 Lift Reserve Indicator from BendixKing provides lift awareness at a glance and audible alerting cues to keep your wing flying. Improves operational safety by indicating remaining lift during phases of flight with high angles of attack such as takeoff, approach and landing, which account for the majority of preventable loss-of-control accidents. Portable in size though not a portable product, the KLR 10 is designed for glareshield mounting, and its design fits in well with integrated flight decks or legacy panels. Angle of Attack (AoA) has been used by the military and commercial pilots for decades as the most reliable indicator of aircraft lift remaining. The KLR 10 offers general aviation pilots this same AoA awareness technology in an easy-to-install and affordable product. Introduced for experimental aircraft at AirVenture last year, the FAA has now approved the KLR 10 for installation in certified aircraft. Note that the KLR 10 isn't portable from aircraft to aircraft. Price: $1,600.

Yaesu
www.yaesu.com/airband
Air band transceiver manufacturer Yaesu announced three new handheld models at Sun 'n Fun this year: the Pro-X FTA-550 AA and FTA-550L, and the Spirit FTA-750L. All three units from the California company combine two-way radio, and VOR and ILS functions, utilizing an advanced user interface. Their large (1.7x1.7 inch) Full Dot Matrix Displays, easy-to-operate menu system and Loud Audio (800mW) ensure "intuitive operation and optimized performance," says R. Jason Kennedy, Yaesu's Executive Vice President.

The FTA-550 AA is an alkaline battery powered NAV/COM transceiver with ILS (Localizer) and VOR navigation capabilities, and includes a 12VDC power cord, priced at $229.99. The FTA-550L (L for "Lithium-Ion battery") provides identical NAV/COM functions and has an 1800 mAh Li-Ion battery and alkaline battery tray, for $349.99. The FTA-750L airband transceiver includes both localizer and glideslope in its ILS functionality, along with VOR navigation and a GPS receiver for waypoint navigation.

An 1800 mAh Li-Ion battery and alkaline battery tray are included in the $449.99 price. Yaesu's legacy transceivers---the COM-only FTA-230 ($229) and the NAV/COM VOR FTA-310 ($259.99) remain available.