Live from the AEA Convention in Dallas

Our team has just returned from the Aircraft Electronics Association Convention in Dallas with news on the latest in avionics. Many of these products are available now and some are still months out, but this summary will keep you informed on the trends.

ADS-B Solutions

This was the big buzz at show and many new products were introduced to make aircraft ADS-B compliant. Companies such as Aspen, Avidyne, Appareo, Freeflight, Garmin, Rockwell Collins, Sandia, Trig, and Universal all now have offerings. Confused? Just come in for a chat and we will guide you to the best solution for your aircraft.  A reminder, that Canadian aircraft that fly into the US also need to have this equipment installed.

Aspen Avionics has announced the introduction of its integrated Evolution Angle of Attack (AOA) indicator. Unlike other AOAs, Aspen’s patent-pending solution seamlessly integrates AOA technology directly into its Evolution primary flight and multi-function displays. The aircraft modification consists of a simple software upgrade to the Aspen primary and multi-function flight displays and requires a short calibration flight as part of the return to service.

L-3 Aviation Products

Garmin announced enhanced capability and an expanded feature set for the G500/G600 glass flight display systems. We have been waiting for this update as it now finally supports Canadian XM weather! This software update includes ADS-B Display Capability, a faster, more responsive and modernized mapping display, complete with a number of enhancements that bring new capabilities to these flight displays, geo-referenced FliteCharts®, WX 500 Stormscope® support, and more. If we installed this product for you we will be sending an update notice soon, if you are not on our list just give us a ring and we can schedule you in for this feature laden upgrade.

PS Engineering has an upgrade path for their original PMA6000 to the PMA7000M featuring Intellevox auto squelch, Bluetooth, etc. The new PMA8000E allows dual audio panel installations and the new PDA360EX provides a feature rich audio panel for the experimental market.

Jupiter Avionics

Rockwell Collins

Latitude Technologies

Gogo Business Aviation 

Mechanical, spinning mass gyroscopes have been widely used for aircraft flight instrumentation since the 1930s. Aircraft manufactured up until the 1990s were typically equipped with three different types of gyros which provided the pilot with attitude, heading and rate of turn information. Multi-crew aircraft were equipped with a second set of gyro based instruments plus an additional standby attitude gyro was typically installed in the center of the panel. This legacy technology is not capable of meeting the needs and expectations of modern flight crews due to its high failure rates, escalating repair costs, and incompatibility with modern glass panel technology. 

AHRS is an acronym for “Attitude Heading and Reference Systems” which became common in business and commercial aircraft during the early 1990s. AHRS systems utilize solid state sensors on all three axes to provide aircraft attitude (pitch and roll) and yaw (heading) information. They are designed to replace traditional mechanical gyroscopic flight instruments and provide superior reliability and accuracy and provide superior reliability and accuracy.

Over the past twenty years AHRS technology has matured to the point that very few new aircraft use mechanical gyros for primary flight instruments. The first generation AHRS system were considered expensive at the time but have since saved countless unscheduled maintenance events and the associated repair costs.

AHRS is one of the key technologies which enabled the glass cockpit revolution in general aviation. Today there is a cost effective upgrade solution available for virtually any aircraft.

Stand-alone AHRS sensors are also available for retrofit into older turboprops, jets and mid-sized helicopters. These remote AHRS can interface with a variety of legacy attitude indicators and HSIs enabling operators to significantly reduce their maintenance headaches without the commitment of a full glass panel upgrade.

Operators should be aware that there are glass panel upgrade solutions available which have capability to interface with existing legacy remote gyros for reference. We strongly discourage this type of cosmetic upgrade as it will not provide the reliability and long term value that’s expected.

AHRS is the new reference standard for aircraft flight instrumentation. We expect the vast majority of flying aircraft will eventually be upgraded with AHRS technology and glass panel flight displays.

Archangel Systems, Inc. designs and manufactures attitude, heading and air data sensors commonly known as AHRS and ADAHRS.  AHRS is an acronym for Attitude Heading Reference System – a sensor package that provides attitude data and magnetic heading.  An Air Data Attitude Heading Reference System (ADAHRS) is an AHRS with an integrated air data computer.

Based in Auburn, Alabama and founded in 1992, Archangel is at the leading edge of four game-changing technologies.  First, all core sensors are solid-state which reduces cost to build significantly.  Second, the entire catalog is fully approved via FAA TSO and EASA ETSO.  Third, export is ITAR-free.  That’s a huge advantage to non-US customers because the procurement and logistic overhead costs go way down.  And fourth, all products are certified per DO-178B Level A for mission critical use on Part 23, 25, 27, and 29 aircraft.  In short, the catalog is fully qualified and fully supported for any aircraft / any mission, yet priced attractively.

Examples of Archangel’s installations include:  the Erickson S-64 Sky-Crane, the Airbus Military C-212, the Australian Army’s Bell 206 fleet, Bell B-212 upgrades for the Panama government, C-26 Metroliner upgrades for State Department interdiction missions, and even F-5 fighters in supersonic flight.