Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) and Rockwell Collins said flight testing has begun for the program to offer Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion avionics suite as an aftermarket option to all in-service Beechcraft King Air Pro Line 21-equipped aircraft
Certification for the initial King Air application is expected by the end of 2013 with entry into service in early 2014.
“We’re thrilled to bring this technology to our existing fleet of aircraft by collaborating with Rockwell Collins,” said Christi Tannahill, Hawker Beechcraft senior vice president, Global Customer Support. “Our King Air owners are eager to upgrade to easy-to-manage flight deck displays that take situational awareness to another level and allow for future technology and requirements.”
Rockwell Collins is using its King Air B200GT for flight testing from its Flight Operations facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
“First flight for this latest configuration of Pro Line Fusion is a significant step in our development process. We’re on track for bringing this innovation to market as planned,” said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems, Rockwell Collins.
The upgrade features large format, landscape, touch-control displays that come standard with synthetic vision and a graphical flight management system that enables eyes-forward flying. In addition, the new Pro Line Fusion touch-control displays are globally networked with Rockwell Collins’ Ascend Flight Information Solutions for convenient wireless updates of all flight-related databases and wireless downloading of maintenance information.
The cockpit will also feature the new GH-3900RSU Standby System from L-3 Avionics Systems. The GH-3900RSU is a two-part system that separates the display from the sensor array, allowing the ultra-thin display (DU-42) to be mounted higher in the panel. A separate Remote Sensor Unit houses rate/level sensors, air data transducers and optional accelerometers that deliver attitude, altitude, airspeed, heading and navigation data to the 4.2-inch diagonal high resolution DU-42 display.