Satellite communications service provider Satcom Direct has unveiled the company’s first certified aviation hardware product, a router that integrates with any satcom and manages cabin communications, runs software apps and connects to 3G/4G cellular networks. The new Satcom Direct Router (SDR) weighs less than 10 pounds, meets DO-160G and DO-178B Level E (soon D) standards and will be available in May. “We wanted to make this [router] as robust and flexible as possible,” said Jim Jensen, Satcom Direct founder and owner.
Aircraft instruments
February 27, 2013 - 1:15pm
West Coast Aircraft Maintenance has been appointed a JSSI-approved maintenance facility. JSSI provides hourly cost maintenance programs for turbine-powered aircraft.
Sales manager Alfredo Garcia told AIN, “We’ll be supporting any JSSI customer with major and minor maintenance, AOG support, interior work and avionics support.”
February 20, 2013 - 12:20pm
DAC International has received FAA parts manufacturer approval for its GDC62 radio altimeter interface unit and the GDC66 fuel quantity adapter unit. These converters, developed specifically for the Piper Meridian, permit the continued use of the existing radio altimeter and fuel quantity computer and are required for the G950 cockpit retrofit STC owned by Cutter Aviation. DAC International’s engineering and certification division achieved the approvals in partnership with Cutter Aviation.
February 14, 2013 - 4:05pm
Garmin unveiled its first radar altimeter–the GRA 5500–yesterday. An all-digital design that employs digital signal processing technology, the GRA 5500 already holds FAA TSO authorization and is available immediately, at a retail price of $13,995 (without antenna).
Several OEMs have already selected the GRA 5500 for upcoming aircraft, including new versions of the Cessna Citation X, Sovereign, Latitude and Longitude and Bell Helicopter’s 525 Relentless.
February 13, 2013 - 11:30am
Three de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otters operated by Tac Air out of Coronado, Calif., are getting a new outlook on life thanks to Pacific Coast Avionics. The Aurora, Ore. company has a contract to design and install custom panels and a new avionics system. The aircraft are used for civilian and military jump training.
February 11, 2013 - 1:50pm
Embraer expects to reveal its choice of several major systems contractors for its new second-generation E-Jets over the next three or four months, Embraer Commercial Aviation COO Luis Carlos Affonso told AIN last week as the company announced it is retaining Honeywell as the supplier for the series’ avionics suite and flight management computer. Further contract awards over the next few months will likely go to suppliers of the airplanes’ fly-by-wire system, APU electric system and air management system.
February 11, 2013 - 1:40pm
Frontier Airlines became the first Airbus operator in the U.S. approved to fly public-use precision approaches into airports surrounded by challenging terrain, Airbus subsidiary Quovadis said last week. Frontier should see operational benefits with its Airbus A320s, including a reduction in diversions caused by bad weather, as well as lower fuel burn and lower emissions.
February 8, 2013 - 6:17am
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been demonstrating its latest upgrades for the Dornier 228 twin turboprop at this week’s Aero India show in Bangalore. On display for the first time is a new glass cockpit developed by the Swiss-based Ruag group.
February 6, 2013 - 1:28pm
Embraer has selected the Honeywell Primus Epic 2 integrated avionics system for the second-generation E-Jet, slated to enter service in 2018. The decision is another important milestone in the program, which is expected to be launched later this year. The Primus Epic 2 integrated avionics system includes four 13- by 10-inch large landscape displays with advanced graphics capabilities.
February 5, 2013 - 3:50am
Kitchener Aero Avionics obtained STC approval for a glass cockpit for the Eurocopter EC120. It includes the Garmin G500H flight display system with helicopter synthetic vision, an attitude heading reference system and air data computer.
Also STC’d in the EC120 are the Garmin GDL69/69A XM weather datalink, an Avidyne TAS-605 traffic awareness system and a Honeywell KRA-405B radar altimeter. All of these additional systems are controlled by and displayed on the G500H. Images from an external video camera or Flir system can also be displayed on the G500H MFD.
