Honeywell cabin management and avionics upgrades designed to improve operational efficiency, connectivity, and safety

LAS VEGAS, 28 Oct. 2013. Honeywell (NYSE:HON) is new retrofit, modification, and upgrade (RMU) technologies, including a range of satellite communications (SATCOM) products, flight management systems (FMS), cabin management systems (CMS), and cockpit displays.

“Operators are looking to extend the life and enhance the value of their aircraft and are turning to RMUs to do so,” says Rob Wilson, president of Business and General Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace. “We are highlighting our cost-effective, easy-to-install, and certified technologies that help our customers enhance the productivity of their fleets, meet evolving regulatory demands, and increase their aircraft’s resale value.”

Today’s passengers want to be just as connected onboard as they are in the office and at home to make the most of their travel time. The Ovation Select CMS lets them receive and respond to e-mail, access the Internet, host videoconferences, and make telephone calls. It features media content delivered in surround-sound audio and high-definition (HD) video.

NBAA attendees experienced a functioning mock-up of the Ovation Select system, certified by the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The CMS from Honeywell is scalable and customizable to retrofit any business jet, and is currently flying aboard more than 40 aircraft, most recently enhancing the Dassault Falcon 900.

Honeywell has developed an upgrade modification that would allow a current operator with the “C” series CMS to upgrade its system to full HD video and audio, onboard music, Blu-ray, and PlayStation capability, enhancing the passenger experience. The modification will be offered through the Honeywell dealer network via a supplemental type certificate (STC).

On the heels of its 10th anniversary, Honeywell’s Primus Epic is entering a new phase of cockpit innovation with a refreshed Epic 2.0 platform. With the upgraded flight deck, operators will benefit from Honeywell’s SmartView Synthetic Vision System, Honeywell’s IntuVue 3D Weather Radar system, lateral approach with precision vertical (LPV) guidance, access to airspace with priority treatment from air traffic control, and enhanced navigation that includes Automatic Dependence Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) Out functionality.

The upgraded flight deck will also feature a new Data LAN Management Unit – Wireless (DLMU-W) database loader. The technology will increase cockpit connectivity for pilots and overall operational efficiency by making aircraft data more accessible for pilots and maintenance personnel. The DLMU-W will reduce database upload times up to 80 percent, allow for seamless transfer of downloaded material to tablets via apps and let pilots wirelessly transmit tablet-created flight plans into the Primus Epic system.

As well as cabin retrofits and upgrades, Honeywell is announcing and showcasing several other avionics upgrades, including:

A Honeywell Primus 2000 cockpit upgrade will be available for Dassault Falcon 900C/EX aircraft. The new Falcon Elite II upgrade includes the Honeywell Primus Elite displays with FMS 6.1 and Wide Area Augmentation System GPS. Future upgrades will also include a Mark III Communications Management Unit that will greatly improve the efficiency of communications between controllers and pilots by giving them a Future Air Navigation System and controller pilot data link communications capabilities.

A new range of upgrades for the Embraer Legacy 600 will improve navigation, situational awareness, connectivity and safety. Upgrades include Honeywell Primus Elite displays that feature charts and maps, FMS 6.1 for LPV approaches, and SmartLanding and SmartRunway safety enhancements.

The next version of Honeywell’s cockpit display system/retrofit (CDS/R) software recently received technical standard orders. The cockpit display upgrade for aircraft features an intuitive display that increases situational awareness, increases reliability and reduces cost of ownership of an aircraft by removing cathode-ray tube monitors. Honeywell’s CDS/R can also be configured or scaled based on the aircraft’s current configuration.

Honeywell Primus Elite cockpit displays have been certified on the Gulfstream GIV/V, Embraer Legacy 600, Bombardier Global Express, Global 5000 and Global Express XRS, Dassault Falcon 900, and Cessna Citation X platforms. The new LCD displays bring additional functionality such as charts, maps, and XM graphical weather, while enhancing aircraft value, reducing weight, and increasing reliability.