At last, a moving-map display for helicopter passengers.

Alpharetta, Ga.-based Flight Display Systems approached the design of its new helicopter-specific moving map with some experience, according to the company.

“We decided that it was time to address this market with a dedicated product package for heli-copter in-flight entertainment systems,” said Flight Display Systems founder David Gray. “Some of our customers have been using the fixed-wing version of our moving map on their helicopters for a few years.”

Flight Display’s helicopter moving map is powered by Windows XP embedded operating system software with a worldwide topographic map database. Passengers are treated to the usual real-time flight information: location, airspeed, altitude and nearby cities. But roads are displayed in much greater detail.

Avionics shops, said Gray, can easily customize the location database to include local area waypoints, such as helipads, rural factories and landmarks. The system weighs 2.2 pounds.

The moving map comes in two versions: the FD200CPU-7H for heli- copters with the RS-232 navigational system and the FD200CPU-8H for helicopters with Arinc 429 navigational systems. Both models are available immediately at an uninstalled list price of $7,124 for the -7H and $8,375 for the -8H. The helicopter moving map will be available for demonstration at the company’s booth, No. 3009.

Flight Display Systems is also working on LCD screens for helicopters. A 20-inch LCD has been installed for one helicopter customer and a 42-inch screen is being considered by another.