Will Provide Aircraft Computer System (ACS) For Eclipse 550 Aircraft Program

Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. has received a contract from Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. to supply the Aircraft Computer System (ACS) for use on the new Eclipse 550 aircraft. Under the agreement, the Curtiss-Wright Controls Avionics & Electronics (CWC-AE) division will supply Eclipse with its ACS product which will provide the ability to continuously monitor and control aircraft systems such as flaps, landing gear, climate control, fuel management, autopilot and flight envelope protection. In addition, the ACS will alert the pilot, when necessary, of abnormal system conditions. Shipments of the units commenced in December 2012 and are expected to continue until 2016.

“We are very proud that Eclipse Aerospace has chosen our advanced controller technology for use on its new Eclipse 550 aircraft,” said Tom Quinly, president of Curtiss-Wright Controls. “The Aircraft Computer System, the flagship of our Avionics & Electronics group’s controller product line, showcases our capability to provide avionics subsystems that can control a wide variety of flight critical systems in a single Line Replaceable Unit.”

CWC-AE’s ACS will also host the Eclipse 550’s Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) units. The FADEC helps to ensure that the Eclipse 550’s engines are operating at peak performance and efficiency. Together, the ACS and FADEC units make up the Eclipse Avio Processing Center, the electronic heart of the aircraft. The Eclipse 550 features dual Eclipse Avio Processing Centers, each of which can control the aircraft and both engines independently, to ensure maximum reliability and operational safety.

(Eclipse 550 pictured in file photo)

FMI: www.cwcontrols.com, www.eclipse.aero