Aspen Avionics, Albuquerque, N.M., received Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval for its Connected Pilot product line that provides a wireless link between certified instrument panel avionics and portable smart devices.
The company said the Connected Pilot, which includes hardware, software and application components, is available to operators and owners of over 900 makes and models of aircraft. The hardware is enclosed in a small box called the CG100 (patent-pending) that is blind mounted behind the aircraft’s panel. The CG100 contains the operating software, wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi) and flash memory storage, and is configured and maintained via Aspen’s Flight Connect app. The Flight Connect app is available via the iTunes store.
The Connected Pilot can be integrated with Aspen’s Evolution 1500, 2000, or 2500 flight display systems, and synchronizes aviation application data from personal handheld devices with the certified avionics installed in an aircraft’s panel. Designed for Apple iOS mobile devices, such as iPads and iPhones, Connected Pilot is able to receive data, such as own ship position, from almost any panel-mounted GPS navigator. Additionally, Connected Pilot can enter and synchronize flight plans between Garmin GNS 400W/500W series navigators and Connected Panel Enabled flight planning apps.
“Since we announced the Connected Panel concept last year, we have seen other product offerings introduced onto the market that provide data out capabilities from the panel to handheld devices. These are, by and large, limited point solutions that provide a single piece of functionality, like GPS position to the handheld,” said Aspen’s Vice President of Marketing Brad Hayden. “Connected Pilot is much more than that because it provides synchronized, two-way communication between the mobile device and the aircraft’s certified avionics. It’s also expandable, and can grow in functionality over time as new Connected products are developed.”