It's ALL About The Gadgets!

• Read Part One

(Following AEA's convention in Dallas last week, we thought you'd want to see the latest in electronic accessories for your aircraft. Here's the second part of what was new at this year's show. -- ed.)

AEA has an amazing session each year over which dozens of new products are introduced in just a few short hours... with only a few short minutes allowed per company. As a result, new product announcements come fast and furious at the Aircraft Electronics Association convention in Dallas, Texas.

Flight Display Systems DirectTV

You can't have the Wings Channel on TV anymore, but you can have TV on your wings. For under $100,000 you can have a 34 inch diameter antenna system installed onto your airplane to receive DirectTV while in flight. The phased array three layer antenna looks like a small AWACS style radome when installed. It feeds two channel interface control units, so you could watch two channels at once with the appropriate equipment.

Aeroflex

Brian Shira of Aeroflex announced the IFR 6000 integrated test set. This one unit, weighing only about eight pounds, replaces several older test sets. As an example, once set up, the set can test all of the various functions of a transponder in under a minute. Aeroflex acquired IFR.

WSI

WSI says its new software revisions and expanded data coverage are making the company's services even more valuable to pilots. Before and during the flight, WSI provides linked weather services to help pilots fly with safely, efficiently and practically. NOWRAD is offered only on WSI and is the highest quality radar image available. Graphical and textual PIREPS can be viewed to help pilots avoid icing and turbulence. WSI is working to ensure that its system has the capability to interface with multiple displays.

Paperless Cockpit

Paperless Cockpit has been in business since 2003. It will be working exclusively through its dealer network in May. The FlightServ C3 Airborne Server is a PC in a rugged case which interfaces with a display. The E-board C3 is a ultra-bright daylight readable screen in a lightweight yet tough enclosure. It can be set up with AC power. It can be used as a Class Two flight bag now, and class three in the fall when used with the C3 airborne server.

Avidyne

Jamie Sherer of Avidyne says the company was "first again" with upgrades for its EX5000. It can show weather radar and with release 2.0. Major highways are visible, along with a nearest-to-destination page to help when looking to divert. Plain English METARS are available, and it is XM and multilink ready. CMAX approach charts will let a pilot fly the approach and then taxi when the unit automatically switches to an airport diagram to help keep pilots from getting lost on the ground. Avidyne's web-based Flightcenter will enable pilots to use datalink weather, text message, and access or modify their account info. In the future it will include fuel pricing, restaurants and more.

Pentar Avionics

Bob Moses says his company, Pentar Avionics, has produced the JetLan AR 230 for business jet passengers. In one box, it provides high speed data access with a router, server and wireless access. It uses a dual processor, is compatible with different broadband solutions, and is simple to install.

Panel Pro

Buller Ent. produces the Panel Pro 4824a CNC Panel Router. This combination of machine and software enables a shop to lay out an instrument panel design in about an hour using the computer, and then the router can cut it out in about 40 minutes.

J2

Joseph Casaer is the CEO of J2 Inc., a new company with a mission to provide comprehensive process solutions that incorporate smart products and certifications for unique aircraft requirements. J2 plans to do strategic marketing and pull through product from applications. The company will partner with OEMs and mod centers to promote Smart Products.

Rockwell Collins

Rockwell Collins announced improved websites. Dealers will now have a portal to access lots of specific information, product literature, brochures, marketing and service bulletins. Technical downloads, installation manuals and catalogs will be available as well. The site will include warranty info and online quotes in the future.

Rockwell's 'Myairshow.net' is a web-based portal for airshow network customers. Customers can log in to access their personalized info and to maintain their accounts.

(We'll wrap it all up tomorrow with Part Three of our report on new products we found at last week's AEA! Stay tuned -- ed.)

FMI: www.aea.net