Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) and Rockwell Collins are jointly testing touchscreen primary flight displays (PFDs) to the business aviation industry. The displays are part of the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion system.
It will be offered to all in-service Beechcraft King Air Pro Line 21-equipped aircraft. Certification for the initial King Air application is expected by the end of 2013 with entry into service in early 2014.
“We’re thrilled to bring this technology to our existing fleet of aircraft by collaborating with Rockwell Collins,” said Christi Tannahill, Hawker Beechcraft senior vice president, Global Customer Support. “Our King Air owners are eager to upgrade to easy-to-manage flight deck displays that take situational awareness to another level and allow for future technology and requirements.”
Rockwell Collins is using its King Air B200GT for flight testing at its flight operations facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “First flight for this latest configuration of Pro Line Fusion is a significant step in our development process. We’re on track for bringing this innovation to market as planned,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems, Rockwell Collins.
The upgrade features large format, landscape, touch-control displays that come standard with synthetic vision and a graphical flight management system that enables eyes-forward flying. In addition, the new Pro Line Fusion touch-control displays are globally networked with wireless updates of all flight-related databases and wireless downloading of maintenance information.
