PS Engineering has reduced its prices for its PMA7000B Audio Control Panel with integrated Marker beacon receiver. List price is now $1,595, a $400 decrease.

“PS Engineering wants to help stimulate aircraft owners, and the PMA7000B is a great way to help,” said company founder Mark Scheuer. “The PMA7000B is backward compatible with the old King KMA 24, so the installation cost is also low. There are still many KMA 24s in the fleet, and we want to help upgrade them all.”

Upgrading to the PMA7000B from a KMA 24 involves replacing the unit tray, and adding an intercom harness. The radio interface stays the same, eliminating much of the installation labor. With the new PMA7000B, the pilot gets a six-place stereo intercom with PS Engineering’s IntelliVox automatic voice-activated squelch system, two independent music inputs, split com and cellular telephone capability.

For more information: 865-988-9800 or www.ps-engineering.com

A Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) solution will be available this summer for all Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21-equipped Hawker 800XP aircraft.

The upgrade is a cooperative effort between Rockwell Collins and Hawker Beechcraft Corp. (HBC). HBC’s factory-owned aircraft service centers are now taking pre-orders and pre-scheduling aircraft for the installation.

By adding WAAS/LPV functionality, operators can fly more precision approaches with more than 1,500 LPV approaches, reduce decision altitudes to as low as 200 feet AGL and visibility minimums to as low as one-half mile, and use GPS as primary means of navigation from takeoff through approach, HBC officials note.

The upgrade eliminates the need for a receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (RAIM) prediction report, which reduces pilot workload, officials add. It also enables more “direct-to” operations, providing fuel savings and creates a glide path for every runway served by GPS for CAT I-like precision.

For more information: www.hawkerbeechcraftservices.com.

Germany-based Becker Avionics plans to establish manufacturing capabilities for its Digital Audio and Intercom System DVCS 6100 at its North American Subsidiary, Becker Avionics, Inc. in Miramar, Florida.

The DVCS 6100 has been designed for both rotary and fixed-wing applications. More than 300 systems have been placed into service.

For more information: BeckerUSA.com or Becker-Avionics.com.

Duncan Aviation’s Glass Box Program recently added to its lineup with the certification of Honeywell’s latest Advanced File Graphics Server (AFGS) upgrade for the Hawker 800 and the Hawker 1000. The AFGS is a computing platform bringing advanced graphics generation capabilities, such as electronic charts and uplinked weather, together with mass data storage to allow for the operation of flight display applications.

Duncan Aviation recently equipped a Hawker 1000 with Honeywell’s Primus Epic CDS/R solution, a three-display major panel retrofit. Duncan Aviation has installed the Epic system in the following aircraft models: Hawker 800A, Hawker 1000, Gulfstream GIII, and Falcon 900B.

The AFGS interprets complex symbology commands based upon stored databases and generates a vivid pictorial display of the data for the flight crew. The AFGS generates custom graphics and performs high-speed processing and high-capacity data storage as necessary to support the display of electronic charts and maps and uplinked weather information. The server enables the display of approach charts, terminal maps, Standard Instrument Departure (SIDs) charts, Standard Terminal Arrival (STARs) charts and the map application. The map feature provides a moving map on which uplink weather data is displayed. The AFGS applications are controlled by drop-down menu selections shown on the DU-1080 and controlled by the MC-800 multi-function controller.

For more information: DuncanAviation.aero/gbp.

Duncan Aviation recently delivered the first Falcon 900 with Aircell Axxess and ATG 4000 High Speed Internet System. Duncan Aviation will soon deliver the first Falcon 50 with the same system.

The Axxess system, coupled with the ATG 4000, provide worldwide Iridium voice telephone service and broadband data in the continental United States.

To read more about Broadband technology, read Duncan Aviation’s first-hand report at www.duncanaviation.aero/debrief/archive/2009winter/broadbandtech.php.

For more information: Call Dave Pleskac at 402-479-1507 or Joe Spring at 269-968-8875.

One Sky Aviation and Forward Vision recently received an STC to install Forward Vision’s EVS-100 (powered by Max-Viz) Enhanced Vision System as an “All Models List” for the entire Cessna single engine piston product line, including the 100 series, 206, and 207 models. Patrick Farrell, president of Forward Vision, notes the STC includes all 158 models of Cessna 100 and 200 series models except the 208 and P210 models, the latter being handled under separate STC initiatives to be completed soon.

[Read more...]

Kings Avionics, a 40-year-old avionics facility based at Salt Lake City International Airport, has developed the procedures and engineering to make it possible to install S-TEC autopilots into an R/STOL-equipped aircraft, now marketed through Sierra Industries Ltd.

Previously an S-TEC autopilot installation in an aircraft with an R/STOL or other speed modification would often void the autopilot STC. Working with the Salt Lake City Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) and the factory engineers at Cobham (S-TEC), Kings Avionics has devised a means to legally install this autopilot. Installation is most common on Cessna’s 300- and 400-series aircraft.

For more information: 801-539-8412 or KingsAvionics.com

Eagle Creek Aviation Services, Inc. of Indianapolis has completed and delivered its first customer retrofit of Avidyne’s new Entegra Release 9 Integrated Flight Deck (IFD) system in a Cirrus SR22 aircraft.

[Read more...]

Fokker Services and FreeFlight Systems have formed a partnership to provide a low-cost means to modernize the airborne navigation system without replacing existing equipment or making extensive changes to the aircraft.

This dual system with certification is about one-third of the cost of a new Flight Management System (FMS), and requires about 100 man-hours to install, according to company officials.

The modification enhances accuracy and performance of existing IRS/FMS systems without GPS capability by integrating GNSS/SBAS data. The system was originally designed for Fokker 70/100 aircraft, but will work equally well for business jets. The upgrade will allow flight crews to fly GPS-based RNAV for the entire flight (SID, enroute, STAR), in addition to allowing non-precision GPS approach capability. The system will improve situational awareness and provide lateral guidance based on GNSS. Moreover, the aircraft will be able to operate in remote and oceanic regions, and will be approved for terminal area navigation operations in European and other airspace, officials add.

For more information: FokkerServices.com or FreeFlightSystems.com