Boeing Reveals Some Aspects of B-787 Flight Deck

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Boeing Reveals Some Aspects of B-787 Flight Deck

Boeing's new B-787 Dreamliner flight deck will include dual HUDs (head-up displays) and dual EFBs (electronic flight bags) as standard equipment, and larger display screens than previously seen in airplanes, according to some high-level particulars released by the airframer.

While the 787 flight deck will introduce a number of new technological advances, it will retain significant operational similarity with the B-777 and other Boeing models in order to maintain commonality where practical.

Rockwell Collins is the supplier and systems integrator of the flight deck display system and crew alerting system, pilot controls, communication and surveillance systems, the aircraft's common data network, and the core network cabinet.

The 787's display system includes five 15.1-inch diagonal LCDs (liquid crystal displays), each of which has 546 square inches of display space - twice that of the B-777 - to give pilots easier access to more information. Two displays are situated in front of each pilot, and one is placed in the center control stand that emulates the pilot's CDUs (control display units). The entire integrated system utilizes cursor control devices and multi-function key pads for data entry and retrieval.

These displays will allow for several new formats including airport moving maps and a vertical situation display to graphically depict approaching terrain and other pertinent information.

Rockwell Collins is also developing the aircraft's control system, including auto throttles – using a modular design to simplify installation and maintenance – as well as their interfaces to the aircraft's fly-by-wire systems.

Boeing B-787 Flight Deck

Source: The Boeing Company

Rockwell Collins is also providing a newly developed ISS (integrated surveillance system) for the 787 that includes weather detection, traffic alerting and avoidance, Mode S surveillance, and terrain awareness and warning. More details about this system will be revealed later this year, according to Rockwell.

The 787's communication system includes Rockwell Collins' VHF-2100, a VDL (VHF digital link) Mode 2 radio that is capable of future growth to VDL 3 and 4, SAT-2100 satellite communications, and a HFS 900D high frequency data radio.

VDL-2 supports CPDLC (controller-pilot datalink communications), as do VDL 3 and 4. VDL 3 will support the FAA's proposed NEXCOM (next generation communications) a digital system for both data and voice, and VDL 4 is a digital communications system that uses STDMA (self-organizing time division multiple access) modulation.

According to Rockwell, its new, smaller and more reliable, SAT-2100 satcom supports ICAO safety services (meaning air traffic control), with three channels of voice communications, and offers growth to future Inmarsat Swift high speed data capabilities. As part of the communications package, Rockwell Collins is also providing a digital flight deck audio system, and the aircraft's cockpit voice and flight data recording system.

Rockwell's Core Network, a basic offering on the 787, includes file servers, routers and the avionics interface in a single cabinet, with growth slots for expanded functionality. It is a central architectural element in a new Boeing's "e-enabled" aircraft that will use commercial open standards, to offer a wide range of third party applications, and manage on-board information flow.

The aircraft's common core system (sort of central nervous system), supplied by Smiths Aerospace, uses a Rockwell Collins' bi-directional CDN (common data network) to manage the information flow between the aircraft's on board systems in compliance with ARINC 664 protocols and standards. The CDN is based on commercial Ethernet technology that has been adapted to meet the critical data requirements of avionics' systems. 09-02-2005.

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