Aspen Avionics Introducing Evolutionary Flight Display System for GA

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Aspen Avionics Introducing Evolutionary Flight Display System for GA

Aspen Avionics is introducing what it calls, "the most innovative - and affordable - glass cockpit system ever for certified general aviation aircraft," with a modular architecture that is expandable and upgradeable, making it "easy to afford, easy to install and easy to own."

Aspen's Evolution Flight Display (EFD) is comprised of three models of PFDs (primary flight displays) starting at $5,995, and two models of MFDs (multi-function displays) starting at $4,995, which enables aircraft owners to upgrade their primary flight instrument "six pack" to glass cockpit technology all at once, or in stages. And its software allows for "inexpensive" upgrades to add new features and capabilities.

The EFD models have a common hardware platform containing a miniature solid-state ADAHRS (air data, attitude and heading reference system) that can fit into existing 3-inch instrument panel cut-outs.

Different software loads turn each EFD into one of three levels of PFD (primary flight display) or an MFD (multi-functional display). The first is typically installed to replace attitude indicator and directional gyro or horizontal situation indicator, while a second might replace the altimeter and vertical speed indicator and be configured as a MFD. An additional MFD could round out the six pack replacement, and gain even more capability, Aspen says. And because of its common hardware platform, the EFD and the MFD have the same ADAHRS as the PFD, to provide full sensor redundancy.

The following is a summary of each model, and its main features:

The EFD1000 Pilot is Aspen's entry-level product that replaces analog attitude indicators and directional gyros. It lists for $5,995, and will be available in the fall of 2007.

EFD1000

The EFD1000 Pro adds an electronic horizontal situation indicator and an attitude director indicator, with single-cue flight director, lateral and vertical deviation indicators, and dedicated approach minimums setting and alerting. It supports dual GPS and dual VHF navigation radios, and integrates with most GA autopilots and flight directors. It also includes integral GPS steering, enabling automatic leg-to-leg coupling without pilot intervention. With optional software, it can overlay datalink weather, traffic and terrain on the HSI in its map mode. It lists for $9,995, and will be available in the fall of 2007. The Pilot PFD can be upgraded to the Pro with software that lists for $3,995.

EFD1000 Pro

The EFD1000 ATP has all the features of the Pro, but also supports sectional-style moving maps on the navigation display (in HSI or Arc modes), and includes all hazard awareness interfaces (datalink weather, traffic and terrain) as standard. It lists for $12,995, and will be available in the fall 2008. The Pilot can be upgraded to the ATP model through a software upgrade that lists for $3,995.

EFD1000 ATP

The EFD1000 MFD delivers all the features of a typical MFD, along with a duplicate set of ADAHRS sensors for full redundancy and backup capabilities. It includes flexible screen layouts to suit each pilot's preference, and to present multiple information sources simultaneously in different regions of the screen. In the event of a PFD failure (display screen or sensor set), the MFD can assume all the PFD capabilities at the touch of a button. The EFD1000 MFD lists for $7,995, and will be available in the spring of 2008.

EFD1000 MFD

The EFD500 MFD is a lower cost version of the EFD1000 MFD with the same features and functions, but without the backup set of ADAHRS sensors. It can be added as a third EFD to round out a six-pack replacement, and can be installed as a slave display off the first EFD1000 MFD with a simple Ethernet connection. The EFD500 MFD lists for $4,995, and will be available in the spring of 2008.

EFD500

07-31-2007.

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