Universal Avionics Connected FMS Upgrade Receives EASA Certification
Why It MattersCertification of a tablet-linked FMS in Europe shows flight-deck data handling shifting from manual loading toward wireless sync, with certified FMS makers increasingly tied to third-party tablet applications.
What happened
Universal Avionics has received certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for its connected flight management system (FMS) upgrade. The approval allows operators in Europe flying with a Universal FMS to connect securely to an iPad.
The upgrade supports flight planning, database updates and access to flight data. It wirelessly syncs database updates before flight and aircraft data after flight.
Pilots can view and update the FMS flight plan from a tablet, both on the ground and in flight. They can also use third-party applications to receive FMS flight data or to enhance its data flow.
Industry impact & what to watch
Wireless database and data sync removes a routine manual task from flight preparation: database updates and post-flight aircraft data move between the aircraft and a tablet without a separate loading step. For operators running a Universal FMS, an EASA-certified connection means that workflow can be adopted within the European regulatory framework rather than outside it.
The provision for third-party applications points to how flight-deck data is being treated more broadly. When an FMS passes flight data to tablet software, the certified box becomes part of a wider app ecosystem, and the value shifts toward which applications can draw on that data and how securely the link is handled. Operators weighing such upgrades typically look at the security of the connection and the fit with the tablet software already in use in their flight departments.
