Category: Avionics

RTX’s Collins Aerospace to Provide UK Chinook Helicopters with Interoperable Avionics System

Collins Aerospace has received a $19 million contract from the Department of Defense to equip a fleet of new H-47 Chinooks for the UK Royal Air Force with its Common Avionics Architecture System (CAAS) avionics management suite. This cockpit upgrade will make UK Chinooks interoperable with the U.S. Chinooks, using the same avionics system, advance digital cockpit displays and applications.

“Interoperability with our allies will be crucial in the future fight, particularly when it comes to maintaining air dominance,” said Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager of Military Avionics and Helicopters at Collins Aerospace. “Having the same battle-proven, modernized flight deck technology on both UK and U.S. aircraft will enable our forces to collaborate more seamlessly, lower their workload and increase operational effectiveness and safety in challenging environments.”

CAAS’s Flight2 Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) architecture design integrates multiple communications, navigation and mission sensor subsystems through its flexible hardware and software. Its open systems architecture enables cost-effective system upgrades and enhancements, reducing total sustainment costs over a platform’s life cycle.

As part of this contract Collins Aerospace will also be responsible for completing data analysis and testing whilst working with the UK Ministry of Defence to help it meet the UK Military Airworthiness Authority’s requirements.

Earlier this year, the UK government announced that the UK’s heavy lift capability would be enhanced with the purchase of 14 extended-range Chinooks, contributing an estimated £151 million into the UK economy.

Work on this contract will be conducted in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Huntsville, Alabama.

Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright Develop Cockpit Voice Recorders to Help OEMs Meet New 26-Hour Mandate

Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright Corporation announced they have collaborated to develop a Honeywell Connected Recorder-25 (HCR-25) cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR) that is now available for applicable Boeing and Airbus commercial and cargo aircraft.

The HCR-25 was type-certified for use on Boeing 737/767/777 aircraft last year and is scheduled to be type-certified for use on Airbus A320 series platforms in the first half of 2025. The development of this new technology supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three compelling megatrends including automation and the future of aviation.

“The Honeywell HCR-25 addresses the need for cockpit voice and data recorders that has been mandated by the FAA to increase flight safety,” said Steve Hadden, vice president, Services & Connectivity, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Honeywell’s collaboration with Curtiss-Wright leverages our joint capabilities to deliver superior audio clarity in combination with data streaming to enable next-generation access to aircraft performance.”

The HCR-25 satisfies the 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act’s directive that requires commercial passenger aircraft to be equipped with a CVR set to record the most recent 25 hours of flight data. The directive specifies that all newly manufactured aircraft must meet the 25-hourrequirement, while existing aircraft must be compliant within six years.

“We are proud to work closely with Honeywell to bring 25-hour cockpit voice recorder capability to both new OEM installations and retrofit applications, enhancing commercial aircraft flight safety with extended recording duration and real-time streaming connectivity,” said Brian Perry, senior vice president and general manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “Working together, we are ready to utilize our extensive experience developing flight recorders to deliver advanced technologies that provide open access for airline operators to retrieve their own data.”

The use of a 25-hour CVR dramatically improves the ability to identify the root cause of commercial aircraft incidents and accidents, which results in greater air travel passenger safety and improvements to training, policies and procedures. Honeywell and Curtiss-Wright’s joint development of the CVR follows a letter earlier this year from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) that called for the installation of 25-hour CVRs in new aircraft production and the retrofit of existing airplanes. The letter highlighted 14 NTSB investigations since 2018 that were hampered by a lack of CVR data because that data was overwritten due to insufficient recording capacity.

Honeywell HCR-25 CVR

Based on Curtiss-Wright’s compact, lightweight Fortress® CVR technology, the HCR-25 is compliant with the latest FAA regulations and requirements for 25-hour CVRs as well as existing international regulations in Europe, Canada, Mexico and Singapore. The HCR-25 provides fourchannels of audio recording, all with wideband performance, providing investigators with superior clarity over current-generation recorders. 

Honeywell HCR-25 FDR

The HCR-25 FDR surpasses the requirements of each of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)-defined flight recorder types. The HCR-25 FDR, when coupled with Honeywell’s Aspire SATCOM system, adds real-time data streaming to support the ICAO Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety (GADSS) initiative and timely recovery of data requirements. Itcan record and store more than 3,500 hours of data in crash-protected memory before needing to overwrite the oldest data collected. The HCR-25 also provides a 25-hour CPDLC datalink recorder (DLR) function.

Honeywell Receives FAA Certification for Aspire 350 Hybrid SATCOM Terminal

Honeywell has received a new technical standard order (TSO) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its Aspire 350 Hybrid SATCOM terminal. Honeywell is the first FAA-certified Dual SATCOM manufacturer to include both legacy and next-generation Iridium safety and Iridium Certus services in one system. This new SATCOM advancement is part of a broad range of Honeywell technologies that are shaping the future of aviation, one of three global megatrends to which Honeywell’s portfolio is aligned.

With the Aspire 350 Hybrid, business aviation aircraft owners, airliners and helicopter operators can take advantage of secure cockpit voice and data services. In addition, they can also access cabin voice and data over the Iridium satellite network for fast L-band speeds of up to 704 kbps. This 2-in-1 hybrid product replaces legacy safety and cabin terminals and provides global coverage.

“Aspire 350 Hybrid is the first FAA-certified SATCOM system with both legacy modems to support essential safety services and an Iridium Certus broadband modem to enable the fastest speeds available over the Iridium network,” said Steve Hadden, vice president and general manager, services and connectivity, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies. “Operators now have access to fast, flexible, affordable and reliable high-speed aircraft connectivity with global coverage, including the remote polar regions. Additionally, depending on the solution offering, owners and operators can do everything they currently do on the ground – from providing critical safety communications to supporting an ’office in the sky’ up to multiple devices.”

“Honeywell continues to be a leader in innovation and the Aspire 350 Iridium Certus terminal is taking airline pilot communications to the next level by providing a full suite of cockpit and cabin services,” said John Peterson, executive director of Aviation, Iridium. “In partnership with Honeywell, Iridium is committed to providing reliable safety services and secure voice and data to aircraft – everywhere on the planet.”

Aspire 350 Hybrid supports worldwide operation and the Future Air Navigation System-over-Iridium to help obtain preferential routes over oceanic airspace, thus reducing the flight path and saving fuel and time. Most importantly, owners and operators can access cockpit safety and non-safety voice and data services securely.

With this new system installed, pilots have access to real-time weather updates via the Electronic Flight Bag and can leverage a SATCOM voice communication that is crisp and clear versus legacy HF radios.

TSO C-159e was issued to Honeywell by the FAA with compliance to Aircraft Systems Information Security Protection for Iridium Certus.

Thornton Aviation Installs First Space X Starlink System on a Bombardier Global 5000

Thornton Aviation has completed the integration and installation of Starlink on the first Global 5000 prototype aircraft, leading to an FAA STC. The aircraft is operated by Van Nuys-based Pegasus Elite Aviation.

Business jet passengers expect to work and play in the air the same way they do on the ground, making inflight connectivity a must. Whether communicating with colleagues or streaming a movie to relax, travelers want a seamless connected experience. For a Global 5000 operated by Pegasus Elite Aviation, this meant installing the Space X Starlink system. A first, Thornton Aviation also performed the aircraft’s 60-month maintenance inspection during the downtime.

“Pegasus Elite Aviation now has the first Starlink-enabled Global 5000. The system can establish and sustain a high-speed internet connection in flight. The aircraft will be available for charter as of October 10, 2024, via our website,” said Adam Stanley, deputy CEO of Pegasus Elite Aviation. “For us to be able to offer this upgrade, it was important to choose a services provider with proven avionics and maintenance capabilities. Experience with Starlink was a plus. We found all that with Thornton Aviation.”

Previously, Thornton Aviation performed the first Starlink installation on a Gulfstream 650, and the company has a second Global 5000 scheduled. They also have installed Starlink on a Bombardier Global Express, and they have several additional Starlink projects scheduled for a variety of aircraft over the next 90 days.

Pegasus Elite Aviation partnered with Starlink and Thornton Aviation to develop and install the system on the Bombardier Global 5000. Starlink utilizes the low earth orbit constellation of approximately 6,000 satellites, providing unprecedented worldwide coverage. The high-speed internet enables download speeds of 200+ megabits per second, allowing HD streaming, Zoom video calls and large file downloads in flight.

“Combined with the Global 5000’s range of 5,200 nautical miles, Starlink’s connectivity makes it a trip like no other,” adds Stanley.

“We have been steadily expanding our avionics and cabin connectivity offerings,” said Vince Russo, Thornton Aviation director of avionics. “In the past six months we’ve performed more than 20 installation projects ranging from small cockpit USB upgrades to full blown cabin management systems. The fact that our proven avionics skills are matched by our proven maintenance skills makes us a great choice for operators looking to take maximum advantage of their downtime and accomplish several workscopes at once.”

An FAA Certified Repair Station, Thornton Aviation offers aircraft maintenance and avionics services for nearly every business aircraft type including scheduled and AOG support. In recent years, the avionics team has grown to a dozen skilled technicians, and they have earned dealer authorizations from Honeywell, Collins, Garmin, Universal, Alto, Gogo, Viasat, and Starlink.

“No matter what you fly or what cockpit and cabin solutions best fit your needs, we’ve got you covered,” said Russo.

APG Enhances NaviGuard: Free App Boosts Aviation Safety Amid Surge in GPS Spoofing

In response to a staggering 500% increase in GPS spoofing incidents, Aircraft Performance Group (APG), a leading provider of performance and flight planning solutions for the aviation industry, has launched the latest NaviGuard release, a free GPS anomaly detection App, that empowers pilots to safeguard vital aviation information.

GPS spoofing poses a serious threat by providing false location data, which jeopardizes flight navigation and safety. This tactic has increased dramatically, with OpsGroup, an organization focused on international flight operations, citing a 500% rise in incidents year over year in their latest report. They found that roughly 1500 flights per day are experiencing some form of GPS spoofing, causing grave concerns as winter approaches and operating environments change from predominantly good weather to snow, icing, and deteriorating conditions.

“With the volume of GPS spoofing incidences increasing dramatically, heightened vigilance among pilots is vital,” states Andy Spencer, Training Manager and Lead Captain at Asia Corporate Jet. “While combating this threat takes a multifaceted approach, alert tools like NaviGuard can assist impacted pilots.”

APG’s response to the growing safety concern, NaviGuard, has seen significant adoption, eclipsing three thousand downloads within the last three months. The App is built to detect abnormal GPS readings on iPads and verifies GPS data using radio navigation. The latest release, which focuses on editing navigational aid points (NAVAID) and sharing GPS logs with flight operation safety departments, offers a crucial solution to safeguard commercial and business flight operators from this growing threat.

“I believe you are at the start of a profoundly meaningful safety tool to address GPS spoofing,” said Don Cummins, a 30-year business aviation pilot. “The foundational correctness of your product is really impressive, and I’m grateful you are contributing to my safety.”

“The risk factors associated with GPS spoofing and flight safety continue to increase dramatically,” said Shawn Mechelke, president of APG. “With the latest release of NaviGuard, we offer some peace of mind to pilots and flight operators, assuring their navigation remains secure and accurate at all times.”

RTX’s Collins Aerospace Receives First-Ever FAA Approval to Increase Cockpit Processing Power

Collins Aerospace received the first-ever FAA Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval for a fully enabled multi-core processor. The Collins Multifunction Display, powered by Mosarc, will increase the speed, capacity and flexibility of an aircraft’s flight deck, providing 75% more capability than traditional single core processors.

With this authorization, the Multifunction Display is now the world’s first multi-core processor that’s certified for civil and military aircraft and facilitates simultaneous use of all processing cores across all Design Assurance Level (DAL) standards. This certification paves the way to utilize the processor for future hardware to enable multi-core processing.

“On a military mission, every second counts and access to information is critical,” said Dave Schreck, vice president and general manager of Military Avionics and Helicopters at Collins Aerospace. “Collins’ display is the only multi-core processor on the market that is certified by the FAA and is being used by the U.S. Army. This translates to being much more efficient in integrating new capabilities while also being able to safely run more applications in parallel than ever before.”

This enhanced performance comes from the system’s ability to process data 12 times faster than a single core processor, consuming 40% less power. It integrates multiple operating systems, which enables rapid third-party integration and reduces vendor lock. Ultimately, this provides platforms the flexibility to integrate evolving mission-systems capabilities in weeks rather than recertifying flight critical applications every time, which can take months or longer.

Collins has been a leading provider of civil-certified, high integrity, safety-critical processors for military aircraft for more than two decades. To date, the display has completed more than 6,000 hours of flight tests and is optimized for use in rotary-wing, fighter, bomber and trainer environments.

New Garmin G5000 Avionics Upgrade Now Available for Cessna Citation XLS Textron Service Centers

Textron Aviation customers can now upgrade their Cessna Citation XLS+ and Citation XLS Gen2 aircraft with the Garmin G5000 integrated flight deck following Garmin’s receipt of FAA supplemental type certification (STC) for the avionics upgrade. Customers can have the upgrade installed at selected domestic Textron Aviation Service Centers to add significant technological advances and new capabilities to their aircraft.

Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker customers receive factory-direct support, maintenance and modifications by Textron Aviation through a global network of service and part centers, mobile service units and 24/7 1CALL AOG support.

“The G5000 avionics upgrade for the Cessna Citation XLS series modernizes the cockpit and addresses the evolution of FAA airspace, while also offering a lower cost of operation,” said Brian Rohloff, senior vice president, customer support. “We are continuously investing in new enhancements for our customers and their aircraft and expanding the G5000 avionics system to Citation XLS+ and XLS Gen2 operators supports our mission to deliver the best aviation experience for our customers.”

The G5000 integrated avionics suite features three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability, allowing pilots to simultaneously view maps, charts, checklists, Terrain Awareness Warning System (TAWS), Traffic alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), flight plan information, weather and more, increasing situational awareness for the flight crew. It also includes options for Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) and fully automatic advanced weather radar and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) Out compliance and allows for future growth and expansion through software updates.

LONGTIME CESSNA CITATION PILOT FIRST TO INSTALL G5000 AVIONICS

East Coast Aviation’s Kim Leonard, a longtime Cessna Citation owner and operator, is looking forward to being the first Textron Aviation customer to install the new avionics and enjoy the enhanced capabilities in his Cessna Citation XLS+. Leonard has recorded 21,000 hours flying and has flown Cessna Citations for 35 years.

“I will be able to take off from the airport and pull the weather up before I even get off the ground in my airplane with the G5000,” said Leonard. “It does everything. It is absolutely the complete package.”

Leonard’s G5000 installation will take place at the company’s Wichita Service Center.

As the original equipment manufacturer of the aircraft, Textron Aviation can offer an installation of Garmin’s G5000 integrated flight deck upgrade that maintains the integrity of the aircraft’s originally certified systems.

Western Aircraft Appoints Chris Chavez as New Avionics Sales Manager

Western Aircraft announced that Chris Chavez has accepted the role of avionics sales manager.

Chavez joined Western nearly three years ago as an avionics technician and most recently worked as an avionics tech 3. Prior to joining Western, he served in the United States Marine Corps for five years as both an avionics technician and a quality assurance representative

In his new role, Chavez will be for developing and closing opportunities for avionics upgrades and installations for Western Aircraft’s thriving avionics business.

Boom Supersonic Accelerates Overture Aircraft and Engine Development

Boom Supersonic announced milestones across its Overture airliner and Symphony engine programs in July. Boom is reinventing the cockpit with an all-new flight deck, designed around pilots with safety at the forefront. Boom is making rapid progress on its Symphony engine, with hardware testing underway and the first full-scale engine core to be operational in just 18 months. Additionally, Boom announced that Symphony will be assembled in San Antonio, Texas through an expanded agreement with StandardAero.

Today’s announcements come on the heels of accelerating momentum for Boom. In March, the company conducted the historic first flight of its XB-1 supersonic demonstrator and in June completed construction on the Overture Superfactory in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“Passengers and airlines are hungry for supersonic flight,” said Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom Supersonic. “Following XB-1’s successful test flight, we’re accelerating. Overture features an all-new flight deck, incorporating extensive pilot feedback, resulting in a flying experience that is both innovative and instantly familiar. Our Symphony engine has quickly progressed through design into hardware rig testing, and with a fully operational engine core on track for next year, our rapid development approach is pacing ahead of schedule.”

Boom continues to partner with airlines and best-in-class industry suppliers. Overture’s flight deck builds on the next-generation Honeywell Anthem avionics suite. An advanced head-worn vision system from Universal Avionics, who joins the Overture program today, is integrated into the flight deck. Boom worked with BAE Systems to integrate Active Control Sidesticks into the Overture flight deck simulator displayed at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Overture’s flight deck builds upon years of learning in aviation safety and is the result of extensive feedback from airline, business, and military pilots. Incorporating the Honeywell Anthem avionics suite, Overture offers pilots unprecedented situational awareness and ease of control, providing passengers with the safest possible flight experience.

Boom’s flight deck offers pilots the benefits of advanced automation and envelope protection, together with a force-feedback system that allows pilots to feel how the airplane is flying. With key airplane features accessible through high-definition touch screens, Overture can benefit from ongoing over-the-air software upgrades. Overture flight deck capabilities include:

  • Force-feedback sidesticks. For the first time on an airliner, force-feedback sidesticks allow pilots to control the plane while physically feeling both aircraft response and inputs made by the co-pilot or autopilot. 
  • Autoland and augmented reality. Building on the system flown on XB-1, Overture has an advanced augmented reality vision system for takeoff and landing, eliminating the need for the droop nose used on Concorde. Pilots can safely land using autoland or augmented reality views provided on a head-worn device and on the pilot’s primary flight display.
  • Large 17-inch touchscreens. High-definition touchscreens eliminate the hundreds of breakers and buttons found in legacy cockpits. Every airplane function is accessible through software while physical controls—such as stick, throttle, and landing gear—are offered for safety-critical functions.
  • Over-the-air upgrades. Overture will receive over-the-air software upgrades, meaning new features and improvements will arrive regularly. Airlines can control how upgrades are rolled out across fleets.

Boom recently completed a series of flight deck tests with commercial pilots from leading airlines, including Mike Bannister, former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways. 

“I’ve long believed that Overture is the rightful successor to Concorde,” said Mike Bannister, former Chief Concorde Pilot for British Airways. “After experiencing Overture’s flight deck, which is incredibly well designed and delightful to fly, my excitement and enthusiasm for this aircraft has only intensified.” 

Symphony engine advances to hardware testing; engine core to be operational in 18 months

Boom revealed in June that it is already building and rig-testing Symphony hardware, starting with a full-scale test of combustor aerodynamics. The first 3D-printed parts have been produced for Symphony, including fuel nozzles and turbine center frames. 

These hardware tests began just 18 months after the initial announcement of Symphony, demonstrating Boom’s rapid development approach. As part of this strategy, the company will conduct more than 30 engine hardware rig tests, allowing for validation and optimization of all key engine components, ranging from fan and nozzle acoustics to combustor fuel efficiency.

Boom also announced that it has accelerated development of a full-scale engine core, which will be operational in late 2025. Engine core testing will analyze performance of the compressor, combustor, and turbine section. Data gathered will further refine engineering and expedite production of a fully certified engine. Following this rapid development approach, Boom expects to build and test multiple iterations before certifying the final refined engine.

Boom also expanded its existing MRO partnership with StandardAero to include the production of Symphony. StandardAero will assemble and test Symphony engines at its facility in San Antonio, Texas. The Symphony assembly line will scale to produce 330 engines annually within a footprint projected to total over 100,000 square feet of production space.

“We are excited to expand our role to include the assembly and testing of Symphony engines, further supporting the development of next-generation flight with Boom,” said Russell Ford, Chairman and CEO of StandardAero. “Our collaboration is a testament to StandardAero’s world-class engineering capabilities and dedication to delivering solutions that power the future of air travel.”

Additionally, Boom announced it is teaming with aerospace leader ATI, Inc. for advanced high-temperature materials and components for Symphony’s high pressure compressor integrated blade and disk stages and for its turbine assembly. These advanced nickel-based superalloys will enable Symphony to achieve high performance and reliability in sustained supersonic operation.

Overture remains on target to achieve FAA and EASA certification by the end of the decade.

GA Telesis and Alitheon Partner to Bring Next Gen Transparency, Traceability and Trust to Aviation and Aerospace

GA Telesis and Alitheon joined forces to integrate Alitheon’s optical AI technology, FeaturePrint, into WILBUR, GA Telesis’s Web3-enabled Parts Provenance and Records Platform. WILBUR will provide a revolution in securing aircraft and parts authenticity, as well as drive maximum levels of aviation data security within the sector. This collaboration will empower stakeholders to meet the highest standards for product documentation and verification set by all global regulatory bodies.

This collaboration also drives a new level of safety across the entire aviation and aerospace supply chain by ensuring the irrefutable verification of products. Starting with raw materials and continuing forward with Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), heavy maintenance facilities, MRO’s, logistics, airlines, and parts suppliers, WILBUR and FeaturePrint will enhance traceability and identification of aircraft parts throughout the entire aircraft lifecycle. The combined technology addresses aircraft parts previously manufactured, and serves as a forward-looking provenance verification system (“PVS”) and process for transfer of assets within the supply-chain.

FeaturePrint: Revolutionizing Transparency, Traceability and Trust

FeaturePrint addresses critical challenges in the aerospace industry, including counterfeit and gray market goods, untraceable items, and misidentification of physical products. By leveraging standard industrial cameras or mobile phones, FeaturePrint’s algorithms create a unique digital fingerprint based on the minute surface details of each physical item. Just like human fingerprints, these digital ‘FeaturePrints’ are inherently unique and persistent. This technology eliminates reliance on removable tags, QR codes, data plates, labels, and paperwork, which are susceptible to damage, loss, manipulation and fraud.

Irrefutable ‘Back to Birth’ Provenance

A longstanding risk in the aerospace sector has been recently exposed via multiple fraudulent events involving both false paperwork and counterfeit parts and materials entering the aviation supply chain.  These events shine a spotlight on the aviation industry’s increasing need for transparency and trust. GA Telesis’s WILBUR platform uses a patented data tokenization process where irrefutable surrogates are created for the actual information. With the addition of FeaturePrint, the solution serves as an objective source of truth combining the power of web-3 based part-level data, and the connector between physical parts and their digital identities. By replacing outdated part traceability methods reliant on paperwork, tags, QR codes, and NFC chips, the combined WILBUR – FeaturePrint technology ensures irrefutable verification.

“Incorporating Alitheon’s FeaturePrint into our WILBUR platform will establish the ultimate standard of traceability and provenance for aviation industry stakeholders,” stated Jason Reed, President of the GA Telesis Digital Innovation Group. “The combination of our technology and extensive market presence, along with Alitheon’s optical AI technology, will empower the aviation industry to address significant challenges. As the aviation industry evolves, transparency throughout the value chain is becoming increasingly critical. The enhanced GA Telesis platform will empower stakeholders to meet the highest standards set by the OEMs, airlines, and aviation authorities around the world. Together, we will usher in an era where fraudulent aerospace documentation and aircraft parts not only become obsolete, but impossible.”

“FeaturePrint was developed to establish transparency, traceability, and trust using nothing more than a photo. This empowers high-consequence industries to provide the provenance and verification their customers deserve,” said Roei Ganzarski, CEO of Alitheon. “In the aerospace sector, where safety is paramount, companies and the flying public must have assurances that every part installed on an aircraft is authentic, legal, and correct. By integrating FeaturePrint into WILBUR, this industry gains a new level of trust and safety.”