GE Displays Chosen For Southwest 737s

GE Aviation will supply its SDS-6000 large area display suite for Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Classics under a $40 million contract. Southwest is the launch customer for the display suite, which will be installed in up to 150 aircraft beginning in 2011, GE said.

Southwest has named Boeing as lead integrator for its 737-300/700 flight deck upgrade.

The GE suite comprises primary flight displays (PFDs), Integrated Standby Instrument System (ISIS) and control panels. The PFDs, designed to mimic the appearance of the B737 Next Generation cockpit, feature new 15.4-inch widescreen displays.

Integrated with a flight management system upgrade awarded to GE last year, the combined system will support Required Navigation Performance (RNP) operations. Southwest is investing $175 million for fleetwide deployment of RNP capability.