RTOS
DDC-I, of Phoenix, introduced real-time operating system (RTOS) products supporting the ARINC 653, Part 4 strict subset. The Part 4 subset has been specifically defined for systems that do not require the size, complexity and features of the full specification, such as the majority of the Line Replaceable Units (LRU) on next-generation aircraft.
DDC-I offers the interfaces and scheduling model of Part 4 with two new variants of its Deos RTOS. Deos 653p4 provides an enhanced hybrid solution that offers the features of Deos (rate monotonic slack scheduling, interrupt driven response, binary reuse, IO middleware, etc.) in addition to support for the Part 4 services and scheduling model. Deos 653p4-Solo provides only the ARINC Specification 653 Part 4 services.
Visit www.ddci.com.
Power System
West Star Aviation has partnered with Hawker Beechcraft on the distribution and installation of the AutoPower System from Safe Flight Instrument, of White Plains, N.Y., for Pro Line 21-equipped Hawker 800XP, 850XP, 750, 900 and 800XPr models.
Under the terms of the agreement, all installations for the AutoPower System will be completed exclusively by either West Star or the Hawker Beechcraft Service facilities.
The AutoPower System for the Hawker 800 series will provide continuous thrust management during takeoff, climb, cruise, descent, approach, maneuver, landing and go-around. It is fully integrated with existing avionics displays and controls, according to the company.
Visit www.weststaraviation.com.
New Hangar
Aspen Avionics, of Albuquerque, N.M., leased a 10,000-square-foot hangar at Albuquerque’s Double Eagle II Airport as the company expands its test bed capabilities. Double Eagle II Airport (AEG), on Albuquerque’s west side, is an active general aviation airport with 240-based aircraft and about 12,000 annual operations.
Prior to leasing the new facility, Aspen’s flight test group operated out of a standard T-hangar at Albuquerque’s Sunport International airport.
Double Eagle II Airport has two runways: 17-35 is 6,000 feet and 4-22 is 7,400 feet with a full-scale Instrument Landing System. The airport is at an elevation of 5,834 feet above sea level.
Visit www.aspenavionics.com.
1553 Interface
Data Device Corp. (DDC), of Bohemia, N.Y., introduced Total-AceXtreme, a Mil-Std-1553 interface system with transformers inside a 16 mm by 16 mm package.
The BU-67301B Total-AceXtreme features a dual redundant Mil-Std-1553 channel configurable in BC (Bus Controller) or Multi-RT (Multi-Remote Terminal) modes each with a concurrent MT (Bus Monitor) that captures data in the industry standard IRIG-106 Chapter 10 format, along with eight Digital Discrete I/O, an IRIG-B input and Mil-Std-1760 support.
The Total-AceXtreme includes a user selectable high-performance PCI or generic processor interface that allows engineers to use one part for multiple applications. The part also incorporates a high-performance DMA engine, 2Mb (64K X 36) of RAM, and offers ultra fast access time as low as 12.5ns for superior performance ideal for mission computers, displays, data recorders and many other embedded applications.
Visit www.ddc-web.com.
IFE Monitors
Rockwell Collins unveiled its ultra-thin overhead in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitors for regional jets.
The 9-inch LCD monitors provide high-quality video in a lightweight, low-power unit, Rockwell Collins said. The retractable monitor can be mounted directly to the overhead storage bin without reconfiguration.
The LCD monitors will be available in 2012. Visit www.rockwellcollins.com.
Power Supply
True Blue Power, of Wichita, Kan., a division of Mid-Continent Instruments, signed an agreement with Nextant Aerospace to equip the Nextant 400XT with its MD835 Nanophosphate Lithium-ion Emergency Power Supply. It will replace the original two lead-acid emergency power supplies.
The MD835 provides 24.5 VDC power for critical or standby equipment in the event of aircraft power failure. It is a direct replacement for PS-835/PS-855 and can maintain a full charge by recharging during normal flight operations, according to the company.
Visit www.truebluepowerusa.com.
AS9100 Certification
SEA Wire and Cable, based in Madison, Ala., achieved compliance with AS9100 Rev C quality system requirements for aviation, space and defense markets. The new revision of AS9100 includes an increased focus on risk management, supplier management controls, on-time delivery and product conformity measurements, including taking appropriate actions against vendors when planned results are not achieved.
The AS9100 Rev C standard was developed by the International Aerospace Quality Group in order to satisfy internal, government, and regulatory requirements.
Visit www.sea-wire.com.
Cabin Management
Heads Up Technologies, of Carrollton, Texas, introduced the Lumin cabin management system.
Lumin uses fiber optic, distributed processing, wireless and digital content management technologies. Passengers enjoy an intuitive touch-screen user interface, which is customized to support the branding of the interior space, according to the company. The system incorporates Blu-ray, digital audio libraries, Internet, seat-to-seat texting and cabin control functions, while simultaneously reducing weight and power consumption.
The company said the system is scalable to provide a common experience across an OEM’s product line.
Visit www.heads-up.com.
SVS on Pro Line 21
Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) signed exclusive agreement with Rockwell Collins to provide Synthetic Vision upgrades for all Pro Line 21-equipped Hawker and Beechcraft platforms. This upgrade package adds Synthetic Vision to existing Pro Line 21 displays. Rockwell Collins Synthetic Vision System provides real time, 3-D simulated terrain and runway presentation superimposed on primary flight displays and multi-function displays.
First customer installations are set for 2012. Visit www.hawkerbeechcraft.com.
Maintenance Program
Gulfstream Aerospace expanded its cost-per-hour maintenance program, PlaneParts. The new optional coverage is for several aircraft systems installed during final-phase manufacturing. These systems are water and waste, entertainment and in-flight information, Broad Band Multi-Link, Gulfstream’s Enhanced Vision System, in-flight phones and satellite television.
For an additional per-hour cost, coverage for these items is available for all in-production aircraft upon entry-into-service, Gulfstream said.
PlaneParts provides Gulfstream operators with no-charge replacement components for parts removed due to failure, life limit or wear, in exchange for monthly payments based on the aircraft’s model and age.
Visit www.gulfstream.com.
New Apps
Satcom Direct, of Satellite Beach, Fla., launched mobile application versions of five of its services — AeroV in-flight Softphone, FlightDeck Freedom, which provides tablet-based flight deck data; Plane Simple, providing mobile account management; SkyTicket, which providing broadband connectivity for passengers, and Mobile Access Troubleshooting Application, which is used for troubleshooting satcom systems on-board aircraft.
The company said the apps are designed to help pilots, flight crew and passengers get connected and receive real-time data of activity on an aircraft.
Satcom Direct mobile apps are currently available for all Apple devices, including the iPhone and iPad, and can be downloaded from the iTunes store.
Visit www.satcomdirect.com.
Transmitter TSO
FreeFlight Systems, of Waco, Texas, received FAA technical standard order (TSO) approval for its RANGR FDL-978TX Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) UAT 978MHz transmitter.
The RANGR FDL-978TX system will interface to FreeFlight Systems WAAS-GPS receiver 1201, dual antennas and a panel-mounted control head. The system weighs less than one pound, and meets DO-160 testing for helicopter applications. It will provide pilots with the V2 compliant TSO-C154c UAT Transmitter. The RANGR FDL-978TX will provide air traffic controllers with course, speed and altitude data continuously, as well as to other ADS-B equipped aircraft.
Visit www.freeflightsystems.com.
UAS
AeroVironment, of Monrovia, Calif., introduced the Qube portable unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for use in public safety applications such as law enforcement and first response. Small enough to fit in the trunk of a car, the Qube system can be unpacked, assembled and ready for flight in less than five minutes, according to the company.
The Vertical Take-off and Landing air vehicle can hover for 40 minutes. Equipped with dual color and thermal video cameras, it can transmit live video directly to the operator to assist with threat assessment, situational awareness, search and rescue, perimeter security and a variety of other missions, AeroVironment said.
Visit www.avinc.com.
Content Distribution
Thales will work with Siemens Communications, Media and Technologies (Siemens CMT) to develop and test a new onboard wireless content distribution system that will complement the Thales TopSeries product family.
The solution integrates the Siemens Media4Sky onboard application to the TopSeries system, and will enable passengers to receive streaming video, audio and many other applications from the TopSeries digital server to their many different types of mobile devices.
The application also includes a business management system that supports payment processing, dynamic content storage for timely programs such as news and Customer Relationship Management.
Thales said the system will be tested on an undisclosed airline in early 2012 to validate a variety of Media4Sky features.
Visit www.thales-ifec.com.
Touch-Screen Avionics
Avidyne., of Lincoln, Mass., introduced the IFD510 SBAS/LPV/RNP-capable GPS Navigation System with touch screen user interface. The IFD510 is a slide-in replacement for existing GPS500/W GPS-only navigators found in many turbo-prop and light jet aircraft, and is an extension of Avidyne’s recently-announced plug-and-play avionics line, which includes the IFD540, touch-screen FMS/GPS/NAV/COM.
The touch-screen capable IFD510 has the same Flight Management System as Avidyne’s Entegra Release 9 and IFD540 FMS/GPS/NAV/COM. It meets TSO-C146c for Satellite Based Augmentation System-Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance approach guidance and supports all leg-types required for flying Area Navigation/Required Navigation Performance procedures, Avidyne said.
Visit www.avidyne.com.
iPad Mount
Flight Display Systems, of Alpharetta, Ga., introduced a mounting arm for iPads in business jet cabins. The iPad Arm Mount is designed to replace LCD monitors on any aircraft.
The mount allows operators to adjust the viewing angle — up to 15 degrees in portrait or landscape modes — and charges the iPad.
Arm mount base receptacles are standard on most private aircraft produced between 1996 and 2011, including all models of Gulfstream, Global Express, Cessna Citation, Falcon, Hawker Beechcraft and Learjet.
Visit www.flightdisplay.com.
FANS Partnership
International Communications Group (ICG), of Newport News, Va., has teamed with Overlook Consulting, of Loveland, Colo., to bring operational approval services to pilots and flight departments that have a need for Future Air Navigation System (FANS1/A) and polar routing systems using ICG’s NxtLink Series ICS-120A and ICS-220A Iridium transceivers.
Among the major elements for obtaining operational approval for FANS are flight manual revisions, developing operational specifications, Standard Operating Procedures and crew training. ICG said the partnership will streamline the process of qualifying the companies’ mutual customers to take “advantage of the advanced technology we produce, the efficient and comprehensive knowledge of the regulatory process Overlook has honed and the navigational flexibility and cost savings flying in the Future Air Navigation System provides.”
Visit www.icg.aero.