Hawker Beechcraft Services (HBS), Wichita, Kan., has developed a supplemental type certificate to install the DAC International Gen-X Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) in a majority of Beechcraft King Air turboprops. The STC will hard mount the Gen-X display as a Class 3 device and support single and dual installations, HBS said. The Gen-X EFB features a touchscreen, active matrix display coupled with a 40 gigabyte hard drive capable of storing and displaying aircraft technical information, electronic charts, graphical weather and other applications, including infra-red enhanced vision. Operators will have a choice between JeppView or Maptech electronic charts, XM or WSI graphical weather and the entire Hawker Beechcraft electronic technical publication library. The Gen-X STC is expected to be available for first-quarter 2009 installation at company-owned HBS locations. “Operators of our King Air fleet will truly enjoy this unique EFB,” said Andy Plyler, vice president, Hawker Beechcraft Services. “It significantly improves flight crew situational awareness while reducing work load to enhance safety. Additionally, we stand by our installation by offering a lifetime warranty on workmanship.” DAC International, based in Austin, Texas, will cover repair and replacement of its parts under its standard five year parts warranty.
StandardAero Leads Falcon Display Retrofit
StandardAero, Winnipeg, Canada, will be the launch partner and generate the first supplemental type certificate (STC) for Honeywell’s DU-875 flight deck upgrade for the Falcon 900C and EX series business jets. The upgrade will replace the existing Honeywell Primus 2000 DU-870 cathode ray tube displays with new DU-875 LCDs. The upgrade program was announced at the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) convention in Orlando. StandardAero said the new displays have the same dimensions as the existing Primus 2000 displays, allowing for minimal installation down time. Because the existing display symbology and functionality is retained, minimal crew training will be required. The LCDs require less power than the current CRT displays, reducing heat, eliminating the need for forced air cooling and nearly doubling the reliability of the current CRTs. The new LCD units yield a cumulative weight savings of up to 35 pounds. The LCD displays will include a built-in Advanced File Graphics Server allowing the system to display electronic charts, maps, XM graphical weather and video; a capability not available with the current CRT displays. John Bolton, Honeywell vice president, Business and General Aviation Aftermarket, said the DU-875 flight deck provides significant advantages over existing CRT displays and a path for future functionality, such as synthetic vision and enhanced navigation. StandardAero’s Designated Alteration Station in Springfield, Ill., will develop the STC, estimated for completion in late 2009.
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