Tracplus RockAIR Owner's Manual

RockAIR

Owner’s Manual v2.0

TracPlus Global Ltd

Level 4, 1 Bond Street,
PO Box 1466
Dunedin 9054
New Zealand

0800 872 275 (New Zealand)
1800 330 740 (Australia)

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

Table of Contents

Page

Overview of the RockAIR 2

Installation of the RockAIR 7

Activating the RockAIR 12

International Roaming 12

Basic Operations 13

Advanced Operations 16

LED light indicators 17

Using the RockAIR with an iOS device 18

Troubleshooting 21

Overdue and Distress Monitoring options 22

Viewing your tracking 23

About the battery 24

Compliance 26

Overview

Thank you for your purchase of a RockAIR. We are confident that you will find
the RockAIR to be an invaluable addition to your operations to improve safety,
communication and operational eectiveness.

With correct use, your RockAIR should provide years of reliable service. This manual
sets out important information crucial to the correct installation and operation of your
RockAIR so that you get the very best results from your investment. Failure to observe
and adhere to the instructions contained in this document will compromise the ability of
the RockAIR to perform as designed.

TracPlus cannot be held responsible for any failure of the RockAIR or
supporting services arising in whole or in part from any failure to adhere to
the instructions and guidelines contained herein.

Description

The RockAIR is a portable, carry-on carry-o global communications device that allows
you to transmit tracking, events, forms and send/receive messages from anywhere in the
world using the Iridium satellite network and terrestrial cellular networks.

The RockAIR consists of a GPS receiver, Iridium SBD satellite transceiver, GPRS cellular
modem, internal satellite/cellular/GPS antennas, Bluetooth™ module, micro-controller and
backup Li-Ion Polymer battery.

Specications

1. Power/Suspend button

2. Power/Suspend LED indicator

3. Monitor button

4. Monitor LED indicator

5. External Power LED indicator

6. Bluetooth LED indicator

7. Mark LED indicator

8. Mark button

9. Distress/Distress Cancel LED indicator

10. Distress/Distress Cancel button

1

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10

11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18

Dimensions

11. Iridium external SMA connector (optional)

12. GPS external SMA connector (optional)

13. Cellular external SMA connector (optional)

14. Sensor cable connector

15. Power cable connector

16. MicroUSB port

17. SD card slot (under sleeve)

18. GPRS SIM card slot (under sleeve)

100mm

(3.9”)

25mm

(1.0”)

100mm

(3.9”)

119mm

(4.7”)

Dimensions 100mm x 119mm x 25mm (3.9” x 4.7” x 1.0”)

Weight 210gm (8 oz)

Connectors USB

4-way Molex Micro-Fit (power)
6-way Molex Micro-Fit (input sensors)
Optional SMA for external antennas

Inputs Four membrane push buttons
USB serial
Bluetooth
Five configurable digital inputs

Sensors GPS
Accelerometer
Thermometer
Power loss
Impact

Screen Type None. Pair with iOS device for features requiring screen

LED Indicators 6 NVG compatible LEDs with additional ND filters

Internal Antennas GPS, Iridium, Cellular

Casing/Housing ABS/PC (Bayblend FR3010 BLK)

Elastosil LR 3003/70 A&B

Input Voltage USB (5v DC); or
Aircraft Power (9-30v DC)

Power Consumption 500mA max, plus very low current sleep mode
(<30mA)

Power Sources External DC supply with internal Li-Ion polymer
battery backup

Satellite Network Iridium via 9603 Short Burst Data (SBD) transceiver

Cellular Network GPRS (Cellular IP)

Operating Environment < 75% Relative Humidity

Operating Temperature -40°C - +85°C

Other Certifications FCC & CE

DO160 Testing DO160G

Section 15 Magnetic Eect
Section 21.4 Conducted Emission of Radio
Frequency Energy
Section 21.5 Radiated Emission of Radio Frequency

Energy DO160G
Section 4 Temperature and Altitude
Section 7.2.1 Operational Shock
Section 7.3.1 Impulse Shock
Section 7.3.3 Sustained Shock
Section 8.8.1 Vibration
Section 17 Voltage Spike
Section 26 Flammability

Capabilities

Tracking

• Transmit regular position reports via Iridium satellite network

• Transmit regular position reports via terrestrial cellular networks

• Automatically switch between satellite and cellular networks based on coverage

• Manually suspend tracking and automatically resume

Automated Monitoring

• Automatic monitoring with Of Concern and Overdue alerts via SMS

Marking

• Manually mark up to four dierent types of points of interest

Alerting

• Manually activate distress mode to transmit distress messages at a faster rate

• Distress notification via SMS and voice

• Manually cancel distress mode to resume normal operation

• Automatically detect and transmit impact alerts

• Automatically detect and transmit start up and shutdown messages

• Automatically detect and transmit events from external switch-type sensors

 Engine start

 Engine stop

 Take o

 Landing

 Rotor start

 Rotor stop

 AoA limit exceedence

 Any other user-definable event

Backup Battery

• Automatically transmit queued reports and messages after shutdown

Global Messaging (connected device required)

• Send/Receive text messages to/from mapping software

• Send/Receive text messages to/from cell phones

• Send/Receive text messages to/from email addresses

Forms (connected device required)

• Complete and send custom forms to mapping software

Logging

• Position and diagnostic information recorded each second to removable

MicroSD card (included)

Installation of RockAIR

Aviation use

TracPlus does not hold any STCs or TSOs for the RockAIR. The RockAIR should be
installed in accordance with the requirements of the operator and the intended use.

Installation of the RockAIR is at the discretion of a duly licensed Aircraft
Maintenance Engineer or Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AME/AMT). The following
recommendations are appropriate for New Zealand or the United States, and may apply
in other countries.

AC43-14 Appendix 9

Under New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Advisory Circular AC43-14 Appendix
9, eligible aircraft can have the RockAIR installed as non-aeronautical equipment.

FAA 337

The power cable for the unit may be hardwired into the aircraft power system, and
the sensor cable may be connected to independent non-critical sensors. This is a
modification performed in the field by any approved AME/AMT by submitting an FAA
337 form or equivalent. Whether the installation qualifies as a major modification will be
at the discretion of the FAA Flight Standards District Oce.

To support the installation process, TracPlus provides RockAIR owners with DO160G test
documentation. This is available on request from TracPlus and is included on USB with
the RockAIR Professional kit.

For further information, please email [e-mail] or call as follows:

North America [phone]

New Zealand 0800 872 275

Australia 1800 330 740

Rest of World [phone]

Finding the best place

The RockAIR needs to have an uninterrupted view of the sky to operate correctly. As
such, the correct placement of the RockAIR during installation is crucial. The RockAIR
should be installed so that it is level and upright; clear of obstructions and has the
greatest possible hemispherical view of the sky.

Metal, carbon-fiber or concrete objects between the RockAIR and the sky will prevent
the RockAIR from correctly operating. The RockAIR cannot reliably gain a GPS fix or
transmit and receive data when placed inside a vehicle trunk, luggage compartment,
building, or under water.

The typical mounting position for the RockAIR is on the glare-shield of your aircraft or
dashboard of your vehicle, in such a way as to maximize the view through the canopy
or windscreen¹.

If you are unable to position the RockAIR anywhere with such a view, you should
consider installing an external antenna or antennae. This is typically a dual mode
GPS/Iridium antenna and a separate cellular antenna. This requires notification at time of
purchase, or a return to your distributor for an approved modification.

Installing the mounting clip

The recommended means of installing the RockAIR is to permanently fit the provided
mounting clip to the glare-shield or dashboard, using installation-appropriate fasteners
(not included) so that the clip will not detach during an impact event.

¹ The RockAIR will not operate correctly on the glare-shield of an aircraft fitted with electrically heated windows as the fine wire mesh prevents the
transmission of radio signals.