Company Also Reflects On First Year Under DAE Oversight
StandardAero announced Sunday at NBAA 2008 the company will be
the launch partner and handle the initial Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC) for Honeywell’s DU-875 flight deck upgrade
program for Falcon 900C and EX series aircraft. The upgrade program
will replace the existing Honeywell Primus 2000 DU-870 cathode ray
tube (CRT) displays with new Honeywell DU-875 liquid crystal
displays (LCD).
The new displays have the same dimensions as the existing Primus
2000 displays allowing for minimal installation down time, and
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, therefore greatly
reducing heat, eliminating the need for forced air cooling and
nearly doubling the reliability of the current CRTs. In addition,
the new LCD units are considerably lighter than CRTs for a
cumulative weight savings of up to 35 pounds.
"The DU-875 retrofit program for the Falcon 900 is an excellent
example of the value-added, tip-to-tail business aircraft services
StandardAero is creating for our customers," said StandardAero
Senior VP, Sales, Strategy & Business Development, Scott
Taylor. "Today we are much more than just a turbine-engine MRO
company. Our broad menu of products and services is meant to
provide maximum value for our customers."
The new LCD displays will include a built-in Advanced File
Graphics Server allowing the system to display electronic charts,
maps, XM graphical weather... and even video, a capability not
available with current CRT displays.
StandardAero’s Designated Alteration Station in
Springfield, IL will develop the STC, estimated for completion in
late 2009.
"Honeywell is committed to providing leading technology and
support to operators over the lifecycle of their aircraft," said
John Bolton, Honeywell Vice President, Business and General
Aviation Aftermarket. "The DU-875 flight deck upgrade provides
significant advantages over existing CRT displays and a path for
future functionality, such as synthetic vision and enhanced
navigation. Installation can be accomplished in a matter of days as
opposed to weeks with other upgrades of this magnitude."
On the subject of "enhanced vision," StandardAero officials also
looked back on the company's first year of ownership under the
control of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise.
"Our first year under DAE ownership has been a very busy year
indeed," said StandardAero President and CEO, Rob Mionis. "Our
financial performance has been robust and we have made a number of
investments this year in the business including a $20 million
expansion at our Winnipeg, Canada facility, an engine shop redesign
at Los Angeles, a new PW600 test cell in Maryville, TN and new
cabinet fabrication and upholstery shops at Associated Air Center
in Dallas, TX to name a few. These investments and the
announcements we will make at the show, highlight our continued
efforts to provide an extensive array of MRO products and services
with customer service second to none."