The road to future communications, navigation and surveillance operations will not include any major technology upheavals in user requirements before 2020, according to projected roadmaps presented at ICAO’s Air Navigation Conference in Montreal recently. In fact, new technologies mentioned for each of the three regimes were usually described in terms of their potential future benefits, with no suggestion of their actual readiness for implementation.
Aircraft instruments
January 22, 2013 - 8:00am
Rockwell Collins introduced new enhancements to its Flight Manager web-based application today at the NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in San Antonio, Texas. The changes to the program, which is part of the Iowa-based company’s Ascend flight information solutions, include dynamic graphical flight tracking, and an electronic advance passenger information system (APIS) reporting tool for Part 91 operators.
January 17, 2013 - 2:55pm
To help build sales momentum as it prepares to emerge from bankruptcy protection, Hawker Beechcraft is offering a free upgrade to the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics suite for customers who purchase a King Air 250 or 350i by February 28. The Fusion system features touchscreen primary and multifunction flight displays, as well as wireless updates of all flight-related databases and wireless downloading of maintenance information. According to Hawker Beechcraft, the upgrade also comes standard with synthetic vision and a graphical flight management system.
January 16, 2013 - 1:01pm
The latest upgrade in Duncan Aviation’s “Glass Box” project is a Falcon 900B retrofitted with a full Universal Avionics LCD glass cockpit, replacing the original Honeywell SPZ-8000 cathode-ray-tube displays.
The upgrade includes five Universal EFI-890R LED-backlit LCDs, engine indicating system replacing the original engine instruments, dual Universal UNS-1Fw flight management systems with Waas/LPV/satellite-based augmentation system capability and dual Vision 1 computers delivering synthetic vision on the primary displays.
January 14, 2013 - 1:30pm
The new Rnav SIDs for Chicago O’ Hare (ORD) and Midway (MDW) airports scheduled for release last week were declared “technically unusable” until further notice after a potential problem was identified at the last minute.
January 8, 2013 - 3:15pm
Cutter Aviation received FAA STC approval for installation of Garmin G950 retrofit avionics in Piper Meridians with either the original Meggitt or Avidyne EFIS systems. The retrofit includes a new, custom-engineered panel and glareshield, providing a cleaner and more modern panel design. The package features two or three 12-inch Garmin displays (single primary flight display and single multifunction display or dual PFD/single MFD). Additionally, the G950 system incorporates the S-Tec IntelliFlight/Magic 1500 autopilot.
January 2, 2013 - 4:02pm
Kitchener Aero Avionics has developed and obtained STC approval for a glass cockpit for the Eurocopter EC120 helicopter. It includes the Garmin G500H flight display system with helicopter synthetic vision, an attitude heading reference system and air data computer. Also STC’d in the EC 120 are the Garmin GDL69/69A XM weather datalink, an Avidyne TAS-605 traffic awareness system and a Honeywell KRA-405B radar altimeter. All of these additional systems are controlled by and displayed on the G500H.
January 2, 2013 - 2:50am
Mid-Canada Mod Center of Toronto recently installed a Universal Avionics FMS upgrade in Advanced Aerospace Solutions’s Piaggio Avanti human-factors research platform. The new FMS allows AdvAero test pilots to fly LPV Rnav global navigation satellite system approaches. Other FMS features include dedicated direct-to function, FMS heading function, PVOR tracking, Vnav and user-defined holding patterns. The installation also added an LP/LPV monitor, which “provides monitoring and positioning information for Rnav (GNSS) approaches with LPV minimums,” according to Universal Avionics.
December 12, 2012 - 2:20pm
West Star Aviation is offering the enhanced flight vision system known as HUD Vision Access (HVA) for the Challenger 604 and 605. Certification is expected next month. It consists of three LRUs and provides safer operation in low visibility, enhanced situational awareness, terrain avoidance and runway incursion detection, according to the company. The most prominent benefit is lower landing credits to minimums of 100 feet above the ground.
December 11, 2012 - 2:40pm
Arinc Direct has brought a range of its products to the MEBA show, underlining its position as a leading flight services solutions provider for business aviation. The company (here at Stand 387) is showcasing its Connect Communication System, a new development that provides three-in-one capability in a single portable device.
