InSight Flight Deck Upgrade Further Expands Roster

This year has been wonderful for Universal Avionics (UA). Their Insight Flight Deck upgrade has been certified, or on track to certification on five different aircraft platforms for a total of nine different STC's to date. For business jet owners tired of dealing with finicky, aging, difficult hardware, UA’s InSight systems claim to offer a ticket to the modern aircraft experience at a fraction of the cost.

Classic aircraft have always offered handy cost savings to the economical operator, but as they further age, that benefit has waned. It’s no small expense maintaining old, out of production avionics, especially when the repairs do little to address limitations in operational use. Now, they can be brought to the modern age, with all the accoutrements of a brand-new cockpit. 

The InSight flight deck upgrade is more than just a few glass panels and some whiz-bang touchscreens. Dror Yahav, CEO of Universal Avionics, described it as “ a state-of-the-art solution to a variety of business jets.” and said “The InSight display system, along with Universal’s FMS LPV, Data Communication (FANS / CPDLC / ATN-B1), and ClearVision Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS), is a full solution to bring any business jet into the front line of technology”. 

Improvements such as 3D Synthetic Vision capability, interactive mapping, embedded charting, advanced radio control, and more all feature extensive Human Machine Interface design geared towards reducing flight crew workload. UA cites increased fuel savings, with decreased flight times through use of the CPDLC for controller communications instead of traditional verbal exchanges. They estimate a savings of 15 minutes or more on a typical flight equipped with their UniLink CMU. The system also streamlines flights through FANS 1/A+, en-route clearances, ATN B1, automatic position reporting, flight planning uplinks, and future NextGen compatibility. 

Reduction of legacy tech eliminating heavy, tube-based avionics and analog instrumentation increases the average aircraft payload by more than 200 lbs, with similar benefits for dispatch reliability and decreased maintenance costs. InSight is equipped for diagnostics away from home, with a web-enabled diagnostic and maintenance tool to assist in situ and remote troubleshooting by UA’s Field Service Engineers. 

The inclusion of ethernet busses enable future technology to be equipped with far less trouble than previous systems. UA notes their ClearVision EFVS with Head-Wearable Display is easily equipped for intuitive flight through any weather. 

FMI: www.uasc.com