Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Rockwell Collins and Boeing will today unveil a flight-deck retrofit program for the Boeing 757/767 that includes large-format LCD screens, <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/blogs/ain-blog-rockwell-collins-ceo-urges-new-approach-nextgen">NextGen-capable communication and surveillance systems</a>, and a commander-side head-up display. NextGen is the new air traffic management system for the U.S.
Inspired by flight-deck improvements offered on the <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/farnborough-air-show/2012-06-11/dreamliner-may-bolster-farnborough-static-display">Boeing 787 Dreamliner</a>, the upgrades are due to be certificated for installation on 757s/767s in the second quarter of 2014. Installation downtime “should be of the order of days, not weeks,” a Rockwell Collins spokesman told AIN.
“The open architecture design of the advanced systems that Rockwell Collins developed for the Dreamliner is what makes its seamless integration into other platforms possible,” said Jeff Standerski, vice president and general manager of Rockwell Collins Air Transport Systems. “With more than 1,600 Boeing 767 and 757 aircraft currently in operation, airlines worldwide will benefit from the high levels of efficiency and situational awareness enhancements this new technology brings, all while being installed cost-effectively with minimal aircraft downtime.” 
As part of the retrofit, three 15.1-inch LED-backlit LCD screens replace the six legacy CRTs to display electronic flight instrument and engine indicating crew alerting system data. Each of the three LCDs has two independently controlled display windows, allowing for a one-for-one display replacement. 
To keep costs down and installation time to a minimum, the flight deck upgrade will use as much of the original avionics architecture as possible. Systems that will be retained include the Boeing 757/767 flight management system computers and control display units.
The retrofit’s advanced NextGen communication and surveillance systems, which are optimized for viewing on the new LCD screens, will include provisions for next-generation air transportation systems such as ADS-B IN and controller-pilot data link. It will also have airport taxi maps and surface guidance, with future capabilities expected to include electronic approach charts. 
The integrated HGS-6700 head-up display will have future synthetic vision system capability. It is designed to enhance crew situational awareness, as well as to allow more efficient flight operations (including departures and approaches in low-visibility conditions), thunderstorm diversion and real-time flight-path monitoring.

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