It's ALL About The Gadgets!
(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.)
ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.28.25): Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
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