First Head-Up Display Ever For A Cessna

Cessna announced Monday at EBACE2008 the selection of the Rockwell Collins HGS-6000 Head Up Guidance System for the new Citation Model 850 Columbus business jet, which is expected to debut in 2014. Rockwell Collins' HGS will be the first head up display ever installed on a Cessna aircraft.

"By adding Rockwell Collins' HGS to the Pro Line Fusion flight deck, Citation Columbus operators will be equipped with leading HGS technology that delivers the benefits of enhanced low-visibility operations, improved energy management and dependability," said Dave Austin, senior director, Head Up Guidance Systems for Rockwell Collins. "The HGS also has the capability to support synthetic and enhanced vision in concert with the head-down displays to further improve situational awareness."

"Columbus customers have indicated that the Head up Guidance System will be a requirement for many flight departments"," said Cessna Columbus Program Manager Joe Hepburn. "Having the HGS on board now only improves what will be the most advanced cockpit in the industry when we begin deliveries." 

The Rockwell Collins HGS-6000 series, featuring advanced active-matrix liquid crystal display technology, presents critical flight information in the pilot's forward field of view. Aircraft flight path and attitude symbols appear overlaying the outside scene enhancing situational awareness, improving energy management and increasing touchdown precision.

The HGS-6000 series is designed for the future with growth capacity to support emerging technologies such as synthetic vision and surface guidance which will further improve safety of operations.

In related news, Cessna says its engineers have completed low-speed and high-speed wind tunnel testing of the upcoming Model 850. The Columbus team is completing architecture and layout planning; then, the aircraft’s detail plans will merge into a master development schedule. One segment of the schedule, for example, will address facilities.

As the largest aircraft in Cessna’s 80-year history, the Citation Columbus requires bigger production and ground testing buildings, as well as expanded flight hangars. Later this year, Cessna will break ground on new facilities in Wichita, KS where the company will produce the Model 850.

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com, www.cessna.com