GA's Most Accomplished EFIS System Adds Even More Features

ANN's Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, calls the Chelton EFIS System, "the best we've seen so far... from a group (Avidyne, Chelton, Garmin) that was damned impressive to begin with." Now, several new additions add more to an impressive resume of futuristic features and capabilities. Chelton Flight Systems has announced FAA certification of its new AIU-1 Analog Interface Unit that adds seven more TSO's to the FlightLogic EFIS. With the AIU-1, the EFIS is now certified to display dual RMI/VOR (TSO-C40c), localizer (TSO-C36e), and glideslope (TSO-C34e), as well as marker beacon (TSO-C35d), ADF (TSO-C41d), radar altimeter (TSO-C87), and conventional flight director (TSO-C52b) and is compatible with virtually all existing avionics.

The AIU-1 also provides advanced GPS roll steering to any existing autopilot that supports a heading bug. This enables virtually any autopilot to fly DME arcs, procedure turns, holding patterns, and even holding pattern entries with no pilot action required. The EFIS also sends vertical guidance and autothrottle commands although no existing autopilot is capable of performing these functions.

"This is a huge benefit for the single-pilot IFR operator," says Nick Cain, Chelton Sales Manager and ATP-rated pilot. "The reduction in workload is staggering; the pilot need only load the flight plan, DP, STAR, and approach into the EFIS and engage the autopilot. The EFIS will take care of the rest. It will even automatically calculate the correct entry to a holding pattern, whether teardrop, parallel, or direct, and fly the entire flight hands-off."

The FlightLogic system's certified Highway-in-the-Sky (HITS) functions as a predictive 3-D flight director, giving the pilot two miles of turn anticipation so he or she is always "in the loop." The pilot knows well in advance that the autopilot is about to begin a procedure turn, for example.

"It will fundamentally change the way you view single-pilot IFR," says Cain.

The AIU-1 is certified now and shipping as an option with the FlightLogic EFIS. The FlightLogic EFIS is the world's first synthetic vision primary flight display and features and integrated GPS/WAAS receiver and FMS. The EFIS also features integrated TAWS (Terrain Awareness and Warning System) that satisfies the FAA mandate and is RVSM compatible. ANN has a review of this amazing system scheduled for the near future--as soon as Campbell comes up for air.

FMI: www.cheltonflightystems.com