On the heels of its announcement earlier this month at Sun ’n‘ Fun of the xVue Touch primary flight display (PFD) for the experimental market, BendixKing unveiled the AeroVue Touch single-box PFD retrofit option for certified general aviation aircraft last week at Aero Friedrichshafen 2018.

Available for installation on 353 different aircraft types, AeroVue Touch features a 10.1-inch touchscreen interface and a near-4K high-resolution display offering the choice of a full-screen PFD or split-screen capability to also display moving map and other critical flight information. Large display buttons and infrared scanning allow easy use by gloved hands, and non-nested menus grant access to all system functions with a maximum of four touches. A remote control panel features four knobs to quickly adjust course, heading, and altimeter settings.

"AeroVue Touch offers general aviation pilots one of the most functional products for the lowest cost," said BendixKing president Gregg Cohen, offering them what he termed "a sleeker, more cockpit immersive experience."

Additional features include Honeywell's SmartView Synthetic Vision System, 2-D and 3-D moving maps and taxi diagrams, and VFR sectional charts and IFR high- and low-altitude charts. Pilots may update system databases before departure from the internet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, or through a dedicated USB-C port.

Future software updates are slated to include engine parameter indications, radios, and autopilot control. As with xVue Touch, the system is convection cooled through a rear-mounted heat sink, eliminating the noise and complexity of a mounted fan.

Cohen told AIN the decision to introduce an experimental touchscreen panel ahead of the STC'd version was a deliberate choice, as BendixKing moves to reaffirm its standing in the glass-panel market in part through leveraging technology developed by parent company Honeywell for high-end business aircraft.

"We really haven't done a good enough job in the past with connecting ourselves with the GA market," he added. "We want to get product in people's hands any way we can, and we really want to get their feedback."

AeroVue Touch is available now for preorder at a list price of $12,590, and the company expects to submit STC documentation to the FAA in July.