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| Cockpit of Gulfstream GIV-SP with PlaneDeck. Photo: Gulfstream |
[Avionics Today 04-27-2016] The FAA has approved Gulfstream Aerospace to offer a synthetic vision upgrade to GIV-SP aircraft equipped with PlaneDeck. The avionics enhancement aims to increase crew situational awareness through the integration of synthetic vision with charts and maps, video capability and XM ground-based weather on flight displays.
“By providing a 3-D color image of runways, terrain and obstacles, pilots get a clear view of the virtual flight path. The increased level of situational awareness, which is particularly useful in unfamiliar locations, bad weather and at night, reduces errors as well as a pilot’s workload,” said Derek Zimmerman, president of Gulfstream Product Support.
Synthetic vision is standard on G650/G650ER aircraft and an option on the G550, G450 and G280. More than 60 percent of Gulfstream’s fleet of nearly 1,100 large-cabin aircraft have the vision-enhancing technology.
Gulfstream is pursuing a similar supplemental type certificate from the FAA for the GV and GIV.