Truly Compact.

An 8.33kHz COM with crisp and clear sound, a fully certified altimeter, a Mode-S transponder. All with a single 57mm control display. Easy to use, modular, extensible.

AIR COM Radio Module

AIR COM is our next generation radio module with 8.33kHz channel spacing. It offers amazing sound and advanced functions in a small and lightweight form factor. It is controlled by an AIR Control Display, can be mounted directly on the display or installed remotely by using a cable.

AIR Control Display

AIR Control Display is our newly designed multi function display. It controls aircraft radios, is a fully certified altimeter, and controls transponders. Air Control Display works well with many aircraft radios and Mode-S/ADS-B transponders. 

VT-01 XPDR Module

The VT-01 transponder is a modern Mode-S/ADS-B (SIL=0) transponder for remote installation in a compact form factor. Two output power classes are available. The VT-01 is our flexible transponder and a cost effective solution for any type of aircraft.

Flexible installation, always extensible.

Aircraft Radios

Plays well with aircraft radios.

AIR Control Display by design is compatible to a multitude of different 8.33kHz COM systems. It can be used together with the all-new and groundbreaking AIR COM radio module, and with Becker, TRIG or TQ radios. 

The AIR COM radio module fits directle to the back of the display. All radios are remotely installed in the aircraft and connected using a cable.

Mode-S Transponders

Add ADS-B Out to your installation.

AIR Control Display controls our line of AIR Avionics Mode-S Transponder modules. The transponder is remotely installed in the aircraft, preferably close to the aircraft’s XPDR antenna, and connected using a cable. The integrated encoding altimeter in the AIR Control Displays allows the transponder to transmit the precise pressure altitude.

Solid state, digital altimeter

Thats right. We said altimeter.

AIR Control Display is a fully ETSO certified primary altimeter. You can use the display “standalone” as an easy to read altimeter with really large numbers and perfect reliability, especially in high vibration environments like helicopters, old powered aircraft, or self-launching motorgliders.

If space is an issue, you can use the altimeter function in parallel to COM, XPDR, or both. This not only saves you one entire instrument worth of panel space, but it also offers better readability and reliability compared to most mechanical altimeter systems. 

Use multiple displays

One or many displays.

In aircraft with larger panels or with tandem seating configurations, multiple AIR Control Displays can be used to control a single radio or transponder. All systems are connected using modern CANaerospace bus technology and always kept perfectly in sync.

Options that fit any aircraft

  • AIR COM Module

    The AIR COM module can be directly installed to the display, or connected using a cable. As an option in both cases, the static port connector can be installed and thus the altimeter function can be used.

     

  • VT-01 Transponder Module

    The VT-01 transponder module is connected using a cable. The static port connector is installed, as the transponder receives encoding pressure altitude from the display. As an option, the altimeter display can be activated. 

  • Combinations of COM & XPDR

    Combinations of COM and Transponder modules are connected using cables. As an example, in the diagram below a combination of an AIR COM radio unit and a VT-01 Transponder is shown. The static port connector is installed, as the transponder receives encoding pressure altitude from the display. As an option, the altimeter display can be activated. 

  • Altimeter only

    The altimeter only configuration is very simple. ACD-57 is installed in the panel, power is supplied and the static pressure port is connected. As an option, an independent second power source, like e.g. a backup battery can be connected for redundancy.

Don’t pay what you don’t need.

With its modular design, the product family is easily extensible. The flexible pricing model of ACD-57, using software licenses for functions that are not used in every installation, allows for a low entry price and easy functional upgrades. You only pay what you need and use. 

Top-of-the-class display.

AIR Control Display, or ACD-57 in short, marks the heart of a radio, altimeter or transponder installation. It features the industry’s largest display area in a 57mm control head. Its stunning color screen is perfectly readable in bright sunlight. Yet it draws very little power. The design has been developed and tested to comply to strict aviation standards for multi function displays.

ACD-57 can be connected to an aircraft radio, a transponder, or both simultaneously. Besides that, it is a fully certified primary altimeter. The user interface, that is the display content and the use of controls, automatically adapts to the installation environment for optimum clarity and ease of use. Data on the display is kept as large as possible, controls are simple, inuitive, and consistent throughout the entire system.

COM Control

If only an aircraft radio is controlled, the active and the standby channel is displayed using very large letters. Additionally, station identifiers can be displayed. The rotary knobs control the volumes (active and standby channel), the rotary knob pushbutton toggles active and standby channel. The pushbuttons on the top of the display trigger commonly used functions such as channel selection (CHN), a nearest station list (NRST), or the “say again” function (SAGN, AIR COM only).

XPDR Control

If only a transponder is controlled, the current squawk code is displayed using very large letters. Additionally the current operation mode (here: ALT) and the transmitted flightlevel are shown.The rotary knobs control the squawk code. The pushbuttons on the top of the display trigger commonly used functions such as operation mode changes (MDE) or the “ident” feature (IDNT).

COM & XPDR

If a COM and a transponder is controlled, data from both systems are displayed using large letters. The rotary knobs control the COM volumes (active and standby channel), the rotary knob pushbutton toggles active and standby channel. The pushbuttons on the top of the display trigger functions such as the “say again” function (SAGN, AIR COM only), channel selection (CHN), or transponder squawk code and operation mode entry (XPDR).

Nearest Channel Selection

Selecting a channel from a close by station is a simple process. First the NRST pushbutton on the top of the display is pushed, then a station is selected with the rotary knob and the selection is executed with a push on the rotary knob pushbutton. The standby channel now has the value of the selected channel. To toggle active and standby, another push on the rotary knob pushbutton is used.

COM Volume Control

Air Control Display is capable of controlling two independent volumes for active and standby channel (available with AIR COM aircraft radio only). You can individually adjust both volumes in order to better differentiate incoming transmissions. The monitoring of the standby channel can be deactivated by setting the standby channel volume to zero.

Entering a Squawk Code

Even if controlling a radio and transponder simultaneously, squawk code entry is easy. With a push on the XPDR pushbutton on top of the display, a menu is opened. The squawk code is entered using the rotary knobs and the entry is executed by a push on the rotary knob pushbutton.

Altimeter

AIR Control Display is fully ETSO certified as a primary altimeter. Without any COM or transponder connected, it can simply be used to show altitude. It is easy to read with really large numbers. It’s tape-style moving digits and its fine altitude resolution give you a great feeling of the current vertical rate. Additionally, its solid state technology is very reliable. ACD-57 by the way is the first altimeter in the world, that is retrofittable with a XPDR or a COM module.

COM & Altimeter

If the altimeter shall be used parallel to COM control, data from both systems are displayed using large letters. In addition to the COM controls, one of the pushbuttons on the top (BARO) triggers the input of the barometric reference, in most cases the QNH or QNE value. Instead of COM control, of course also a XPDR or even both can be controlled in addition to the altimeter function.

COM, XPDR & ALT

AIR Control Display is even capable of controlling COM, XPDR, and displaying (fully ETSO certified) altitude simultaneously on a single display. This is the ultimate choice for applications with minimal panel space. Even though there is lots of information to show, the large, high resolution display helps keeping all the display content large enough to be easily readable.

Innovative Controls

The functions AIR Control Display provides together with radios and transponders are intuitive and natural. We have added some amazing short cuts and helpful functions that make using the system fun and simple. 

 

Select close-by stations

In this video, an ATIS station close to the aircraft’s current position is selected using the NEAREST function. After that, the volume of the standby channel is increased in order to hear the transmissions on this channel (dual watch). This example shows a COM-only configuration.

Transponder control

This video shows the control of a transponder. The transponder mode is set to ALT (altitude) with a single click on the mode softkey (MDE). After that a squawk code is manually entered using the concentric rotary knobs. In this example a radio and a transponder are used simultaneously on a single display.

Power Consumption

The transponder controls are always shown on the ACD-57, with the ability to always pre-set a squawk code. However, the transponder module is powered OFF, drawing zero power, unless the sending function (mode ALT) is selected. Therefore, one is able to quickly switch the transponder on at any time (takes less than .5s) but it will not draw any power while in standby mode. 

Altitude Units

Switching altitude units from [m] to [ft] is as easy as pushing a button. Moreover, it is possible to quickly change the reference pressure from the current value, e.g. a QNH or QFE value set before takeoff, to standard pressure (29.92 inches Hg or 1013.25 hPa) and back to the previous value. This allows for quick changes, for example, while communicating with ATC.

Tuning channels manually

This video shows how channels are manually tuned in. It is very easy to get from a low kHz value to a high value (in 25kHz steps), then a push-turn gesture is used to “fine tune” (in 8.33kHz steps). In this example, the altimeter is also used in addition to the COM function.

Squawk code shortcuts

In this video some shortcuts for squawk code entry are shown. A VFR softkey allows for a quick selection of the VFR squawk code (user adjustable). If the VFR squawk code is set, the same key allows to go back to the previous squawk code.  In this example a radio and a transponder are used simultaneously on a single display again.

Altimeter

The altimeter shows the current altitude in an aviation-standard tape-style indicator with large and easy-to-read numbers. The smooth feel and quick response help understanding the current vertical rate nicely. It can even be used as a not energy-compensated variometer.

Dimensions

  • ACD-57: 61.5 x 61.5 x 25 mm, ca. 140g
  • AIR COM: 61.5 x 30.75 x 125mm
  • VT-01: 65 x 65 x 128mm, ca. 550g

ETSO Functions

  • COM
  • XPDR (Mode-S)
  • Altimeter
  • Encoding Altimeter

Gps Functions

  • Nearest Station List
  • Station Names
  • ADS-B Out (SIL=0)

Display Screen

  • 2″ high resolution color screen
  • Perfectly sunlight readable
  • Night-VFR capable

Compatibility

  • AIR Avionics radio module (AIR COM)
  • BECKER 62XX series radios
  • TQ KRT series radios
  • AIR Avionics VT-01 XPDR modules
  • All RS232 NMEA GPS sources

AIR COM Functions

  • Industry-leading audio quality
  • 6W transmit power at any nominal voltage 
  • Independent channel volumes
  • “Say Again” replay function 

First-class quality

  • All-metal design
  • Crystal clear audio with AIR COM
  • Made in Germany

Intuitive Controls

  • NEAREST channel selection
  • Fast manual tuning with push-turn gesture
  • “Say Again” replay function with AIR COM
  • Easy softkey-driven XPDR controls

Frequently Asked Questions

What is required to use the optional altimeter function?

In order to use ACD-57 as an altimeter, a software license is required that unlocks this functionality. A software license code can be purchased at AIR STORE and is entered into ACD-57 during installation.

The encoding altimeter for a connected Mode-S Transponder is always active and does not have to be unlocked.

From a hardware perspective, all required parts are included with delivery of AIR Control Display. Basically, these are a static port adapter and required documentation (EASA FORM 1). 

What are software licenses, when do I need them, and why do you require them?

In order to “unlock” some of the functions ACD-57 offers, a license code has to be purchased from us and entered into the device once. These functions are:

  • Control of TQ KRT COM Systems
  • Control of BECKER 62XX COM Systems
  • Altimeter function 

Considering its capabilities, ACD-57 is offered at a cheap price. A software license model ensures that ACD-57 can be offered at favorable prices to standard users while users with special function requirements can purchase functions separately. Without licenses, all users were to pay for development costs of special functions they may not need. The functionality of ACD-57 can be extended through licenses at any time, also after installation and while already being in service.

At AIR STORE we offer bundles of ACD-57 together with TQ or BECKER radios without additional costs for the included software licenses.

Which ACD-57 functions require a database, how is the database updated?

The display of COM station names and the NEAREST station function require a database. For safety reasons, the database must be valid and up-to-date.

The database is stored on a microSD memory card. In order to access the database, the card has to be permanently inserted into ACD-57. A microSD memory card is supplied with the unit.

Included with delivery are two years of free, regular database updates. To obtain a valid database, a coupon code that is supplied with the unit has to be entered on a website together with the device’s serial number.

After this two year period, database update subscriptions (2 years, 5 years, 10 years) can be purchased online at AIR STORE. We aim at low costs. The price for database updates covers the cost for maintaining the database and it’s update infrastructure.

Is it possible to connect an existing radio to an AIR Control Display?

Yes, all compatible radios can be connected to an AIR Control Display and controlled by it. There are two limitations:

  • A software license is required for controlling BECKER, TRIG or TQ radios. This license can be easily purchased online.
  • If your radio runs older software versions, some functions may not be available. Please consult our documentation (in this case the installation manual) for details.
Can I use a third-party radio that has its own display and controls?

Yes. ACD-57 takes full control of these devices, their own display and controls are no longer required. Yet, if making sense, they can be used, for example in tandem seaters. 

Normally the radio unit is installed somewhere remotely, e.g. behind the panel, without access to the radios own controls. We offer installation accessories like mounting cradles for permanent installation, that cover controls and the display.

Why do you offer compatibility to radios from other manufacturers?

By design, ACD-57 is compatible to a variety of different systems. We have been following this path from the beginning because we believe that interoperability is to the benefit of everyone involved – you, us, and third party manufacturers.

Buy Now

Visit AIR STORE to see all available products, accessories, and more to integrate into your aircraft. 

Visit AIR STORE Now

Not all functions shown are included with the delivery of the respective units. Some functions require software licenses to be purchased and installed. Database functions require a valid database which may lead to additional costs.

“ADS-B Out” refers to the transmission of DF=17 ADS-B data at a SIL/SDA Level of 0. This may not meet the airspace requirements in countries outside of Europe. Especially, it does not meet the requirements of the US 2020 ADSB mandate.

Ways to shop: Purchase online at AIR STORE or call +49 6224 98 96 999.

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