Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

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The FAA has issued technical standard order and supplemental type certificate approvals for installation of Avidyne’s Atlas flight management system (FMS) in the Citation 560XL, Excel, and XLS. The Dzus-mounted Atlas FMS adds modern capabilities such as LPV approaches to older business aircraft without the need to update all the onboard avionics.

 


With an introductory price of $44,999, the Atlas FMS will be available from Avidyne MRO partners, and Avidyne and the MROs will develop STCs for installation in other Part 23 and 25 business aircraft. The price includes the Avidyne STC for the Citation 560XL, Excel, and XLS.

 


Designed for installation in consoles in business aircraft, Atlas measures 7.5 inches high, 5.75 inches wide, and 10.615 inches deep and it is “form-factor compatible” with a variety of legacy FMSs. In addition to meeting TSO-C146c for SBAS/LPV approach guidance, Atlas meets requirements to act as an approved ADS-B Out position source.

 


While Atlas has a spill-proof QWERTY-style physical keyboard, the display is a touchscreen that can be used for map panning, rubber-band flight plan editing, and “virtually all functions,” according to Avidyne. But pilots can also use buttons and knobs instead of the touchscreen—or, as Avidyne puts it, a “hybrid-touchscreen user interface.”

 


The display itself includes a moving map that can show airspace, terrain, navaids, and airports. SiriusXM or ADS-B In weather can be overlayed on the moving&nbsp;map, as can traffic from TCAS, TAS, or ADS-B In. Also available are Jeppesen approach charts and airport diagrams with own-ship position display.

 


The ability to add LPV approaches comes from Avidyne’s GPS Legacy Avionics Support (GLAS) interface, which provides vertical guidance to Collins Pro Line 21 and Honeywell Primus EFIS avionics during instrument approaches. According to Avidyne, “This unique integration capability enables EFISs certified before the availability of LPV approaches to have coupled approach guidance on these and other SBAS approaches.”

 


Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enable sharing of information with tablet electronic flight bags. Avidyne offers optional integration of radios into Atlas, including a 16-watt VHF com, VOR, localizer, and glideslope. The FMS’s screen can also be used as the radar display for BendixKing digital radars or as an RS-170 video display. TAWS-B integration is also available.

 


“We’ve targeted Atlas as an FMS replacement specifically for console-equipped jet operators to provide a highly&nbsp;capable navigation and flight management solution that pilots will find incredibly easy to use,” said Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn.

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