Other New Features Include Flexible Mounting And Shipping Symbology From Maritime Transponders

Honeywell says it has upgraded its Sentinel Multi-Function Display and Navigation System to include a new display for improved cockpit flexibility and new software features to improve the system capability, as well as approach plates and airport diagrams. The company made the announcement Sunday at Heli-Expo 2010.

"Helicopter pilots appreciate the safety and situational awareness the Sentinel brings to their operations, especially for helicopter emergency service (HEMS)," said Chad Cundiff, vice president, Crew Interface and Displays, Honeywell Aerospace. "The approach plates and airport diagrams will simplify their flights since they can fly without manually changing charts as they fly."

North American Sentinel customers can get geo-referenced approach plates and airport diagrams directly from Seattle Avionics Software, a leading provider of aviation software and digital ChartData. Other regions will have access to similar aviation charts through a future upgrade.

The new remote-mount display is a slim-line 5.7-inch screen package that allows operators with little cockpit space to utilize the Sentinel system without removing any avionics. The display can be mounted either in portrait or landscape modes, depending on the operator's needs.

Honeywell Sentinel MFD

"The Sentinel is designed specifically to meet safety needs of helicopter operators," said Cundiff. "Not only does it add situational awareness for less than $10,000, but it includes terrain mapping, intelligent database search engine, traffic, weather, Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponder display and VFR navigation."

For helicopter operators that fly in littoral areas, shipping symbology has been added via a new maritime AIS transponder interface. Sentinel can display external camera images for pilots with hoist or enhanced vision systems, for example.

Designed to support private, executive, medical evacuation, air ambulance, civil and military reconnaissance roles, Sentinel is a price-competitive package providing high-resolution mapping and multiple sensor interfaces. It starts at $9,995 and is available for use in Europe or North America. The upgrade will be available second quarter from any Honeywell authorized sales and service center.

FMI: www.honeywell.com