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Aero-TV: Multi-Function Displays -- Aspen's Continuing Evolution

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Mon, 04 May 2009 .

MFDs Are Just The Beginning Of The Goodies Coming Soon From Aspen

Completing the vision... that's what Aspen's Doug Cayne was telling Aero-TV about during the 2009 AEA Convention and Trade Show. And the next step on the road to Aspen's revolutionary aims is to get the EFD 1000 (and its little cousin, the EFD500) out on the market.

The EFD1000 MFD is designed to enhance the choice of Evolution primary flight display, adding moving maps, datalink weather and traffic interfaces, a built-in terrain awareness database, flight information pages and more. Built using the same hardware as their PFD, this EFD1000 MFD offers a full duplicate set of ADAHRS sensors, works with the PFD to continually monitor its health, and can automatically become a backup PFD if the primary should deteriorate or fail.

The EFD500 MFD provides the same great MFD features as the EFD1000 MFD at a lower price, by eliminating the ADAHRS sensor set (and the ability to serve as a PFD backup). It is also ideal as a third tube to round out a glass cockpit six-pack replacement, and can be installed as a slave display to the EFD1000 MFD to make installation a snap.

Flush Mount Solution

A Flush Mount Kit will enable customers to mount Evolution Flight Displays (EFDs) flush with their instrument panels. While many customers prefer the lower cost and easier installation of the EFD’s standard surface mounting, others have wanted to mount the EFD from behind the panel. The flush mounting system is expandable, and is available in 1-, 2- and 3-tube versions.

The Flush Mount Kits will be available as options from June 15th of this year, starting at $390 MSRP for a single-tube PFD installation.

Expanded Support for Additional Analog Interfaces

A new Analog Converter Unit (ACU) will add expanded capabilities frequently requested by Aspen customers. The ACU is used by the EFD system to integrate legacy analog systems, such as autopilots and VHF radios, with the all-digital Evolution system. The new ACU will be available in several configurations, depending on the customer’s needs.

The first version will add analog XYZ heading synchro outputs to support legacy traffic, weather, and other systems requiring analog heading inputs.

The new ACU will be available by the end of 2009 at a list price under $2,000. Another version, expected in 1Q2010, will add support for dual analog ADF and DME receivers, capabilities in higher demand from Aspen’s international customers, and from US customers operating Class III airplanes.

Autopilot Attitude Reference Source Replacement

The upgrade perhaps most requested by customers is a means to completely eliminate all mechanical flight instruments. Pilots accustomed to flying glass cockpits increasingly want their backup instruments to look like their primary EFIS, making them easier to fly in an emergency, instead of having to revert to an old-style “steam gauge” instrument scan. Moreover, the avionics industry is struggling with shortages of parts and people skills to overhaul these obsolescent mechanical instruments, driving up overhaul costs.

A multi-tube, dual AHRS EFD1000 system is designed to eliminate the need to keep mechanical backup instruments in the pilot’s primary field of view. But since most GA autopilots still depend on a mechanical gyro for their attitude reference source, until the electronic AHRS can serve as that reference the mechanical gyro must remain in the airplane. To date, no GA glass cockpit AHRS has been certified to serve as the attitude reference source for legacy analog GA autopilots.

Aspen is developing an optional upgrade to enable the EFD1000 AHRS to serve as the autopilot attitude reference source, and to replace the mechanical gyros driving popular GA autopilot systems.

Aero-TV Gets Updated On Aspen's Plans For 2009

FMI: www.aspenavionics.com, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews

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BizAv | GenAv | AEA | Avionics |

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