Anyone who has experience on the flight line knows the pain of managing multiple test sets for one aircraft. A box for transponder tests, another for NAV/COM, a dedicated unit to simulate GPS — it's a logistical nightmare that adds cost and takes time. The Laversab ARTS-7000 was designed to solve that problem.
Here at AvionTEq we service avionics maintenance teams across military, commercial and general aviation operations — the ARTS-7000 is one of those rare pieces of equipment that lives up to its reputation from all angles. Maybe you are covering a C-130 on an active duty military airfield or doing a biennial inspection on a Cessna, this test set has something for everyone.
Before talking platforms there is one core thing to understand — what exactly is ARTS-7000? It's a modular avionics radio test system, rather than a test for a single-purpose tester. That means it's based on an adjustable chassis that contains separate modules — NAV/COM, PULSE, GPS, and VSWR (depending on the requirements of your operation.)
How It Serves Military Aviation
Military aircraft offer some of the toughest avionics testing environments in the world. And you are working with mission-critical systems, regulatory controls, compressed maintenance windows, and often little more than a cell tower away from wi-fi-less remote operating locations. Test equipment which is cumbersome, unreliable or takes too long to set up leaves very little margin.
Fixed-Wing & Rotary Military Aircraft
The ARTS7000 is designed for heavy field use. A compact, carry-on sized form factor allows this to be brought into the aircraft or set up quickly on the apron. The wireless control removes the need to have cable routed through hatches or between crew stations. This sort of portability is truly beneficial for platforms like the C-130, which Laversab has always actively supported during events like the C-130 TCG Worldwide Review.
Another thing is the flexibility of the system itself. Because avionics requirements are constantly evolving, you can add the capabilities you need to the ARTS 7000's modular architecture without replacing the entire test set. That represents a genuine cost advantage for defense operators looking to manage the lifecycles of their equipment.
Commercial Airliners and Regional Jets
The ARTS 7000 adds value for the commercial MRO/airline maintenance segment, but there are more high-volume testing applications across a fleet than rugged portability.
Laversab is also OEM validated for many of the more common commercial platforms in service today (Boeing, Airbus, CRJ series and Embraer E-Jets). That's not a trivial list. All of those approvals mean the ARTS 7000 has been exercised to an in-house maintenance standard as set by the manufacturer and passed.
Boeing, Airbus, CRJ, Embraer, and More
For line maintenance crews, being able to manage the ARTS-7000 from an iPad inside the cockpit while another team member monitors from the ground is a true workflow enhancement. A pair of ARTS 7000 working with a Laversab Air Data Test Set gives FAR 91.413 transponder compliance checks — which involve simultaneous altimeter and Mode S output tests — from one tablet.
Fewer test sets on the aircraft means less to track, fewer calibration certificates to handle and shorter turnarounds. That is a point that matters, especially on a busy line station.
Business Jets and Corporate Aviation
Business jet ops are sort of an interesting middle ground here too — you have commercial aircraft level avionics complexity but maintenance resources more similar to a much smaller organization. A flight department may employ one or two avionics techs dedicated to maintaining a fleet of, say, a couple Gulfstreams, Challengers, or Citations.
In this environment, consolidation is not just nice-to-have — it is must-have. It has an all-in-one capability that enables one modest-sized team to serve a wide variety of testing needs without needing to fill a full bench with specialized testers. Its carry-on portability is practical not only for operators who move their aircraft from location to location but also useful when support will be needed at remote basing situations.
General Aviation: Smaller Aircraft, Same Standard
Here's where things get interesting. Much of the avionics test apparatus is designed and priced as if for commercial operators — which means that the general aviation community historically either used old equipment or paid too much for capability they never fully grounded out.
But the equation is changed thanks to the ARTS 7000. You can get it in configurations suitable for GA use, and its modular pricing means you're not getting pulse testing capability if you only want NAV/COM. Well — for an avionics shop that services Cessnas and Pipers and Beeches, it's kind of a difference.
Cessna, Piper, Beechcraft, Helicopters & eVTOL
While GA aircraft are often simpler, they will require transponder checks, ADS-B compliance verification inspection and NAV system testing. The ARTS 7000 deals with it all in the same way it would inside a commercial airliner — except packed into a setup not needing to stand an MRO facility full on.
And the same flexibility reaps benefits for helicopter operators and the emerging eVTOL segment. Whether protecting a medevac fleet or maintaining a new urban air mobility platform, you can use it wirelessly to give portable control where space or setup time is at a premium.
The Business Case: One Investment, Broad Coverage
So, let's talk about the actual purchase decision driver — total cost of ownership. Acquiring independent test sets for NAV/COM, transponder/ADS-B, and GPS simulation entails three separate procurement processes; three calibration schedules; at least three accessories to keep track of; maybe even training your team to use three totally different interfaces.
That is all consolidated here in the ARTS 7000. And since it's software-upgradable, as avionics requirements change and new test capabilities are needed, that can also be done without having to replace the hardware. That's an important safeguard on your capital investment and especially in an environment when FAA and EASA mandates can fundamentally change the testing landscape.
"The ARTS 7000 was designed to minimize upfront cost, ease of aircraft testing and meet all radio test needs both now and into the future."
Also worth noting—the system boasts a three-year manufacturer warranty, is calibrated at an ISO 17025-certified lab, and has global factory-authorized service & calibration centers. That matters to operators in military or commercial operations who need rapid calibration turnaround.
Where AvionTEq Comes In
AvionTEq has connected aviation maintenance teams with their required test equipment for years. We have the Laversab ARTS 7000 for sale in both new and refurbished conditions (all refurbished units come with current calibration certs!). If your budget is tight but your testing requirements aren't, a refurbished ARTS 7000 is worth a serious look.
For operators without the capital to commit long-term, we also provide rental and lease options — ideal for seasonal work, contract maintenance or single fleet projects.
Bottom line: if you are maintaining aircraft — any type or model of aircraft — and if you are still managing multiple test sets for radio and avionics work, the ARTS 7000 should be on your list to consider. Not ideal for every shop, but the clear choice for an increasing number of operators in all segments of aviation.
Contact our team if you'd like to receive a quote, want to configure and compare different configurations or simply have questions around the ARTS 7000 variant that suits your operation.
Ready to Simplify Your Avionics Testing?
Get a quote on the Laversab ARTS 7000. Our Client Solutions Manager can help you find the right configuration for your fleet and budget.
Call us at +1 310-649-0400 or emails us at [email protected]