Comments: Dassault Says its EASy Flight Deck Represents Fundamental Change

Dassault has posted a detailed description of its EASy cockpit on its Website that outline's the manufacturer's operational philosophy as well as gives numerous examples of how modern avionics can significantly improve a pilot's situational awareness and  reduce workload.

What follows is a somewhat abridged account of Dassault’s EASy cockpit portrayal.  Flt Tech Online has taken the liberty to shorten Dassault’s text a little, as well as to modify some expressions, spelling and punctuation to make the narrative somewhat more consistent with Flt Tech Online's style:

At first glance, the EASy cockpit is a cleverly integrated, feature-packed avionic system based on the latest technology.  That notion is true but incomplete.  What's significant about EASy is not the hardware, but rather what Dassault has done with it.

EASy represents a much more fundamental type of progress toward the new, virtually paperless cockpit than superficial first impressions, however positive, might indicate.  That's because it was cleverly designed to enable both pilots to work better together as a team.

Improved Situational Awareness

• Intuitive displays, both for the aircraft's situation and its systems.
• Flightpath-based symbology (derived from head-up guidance system).
• Map layering:  EASy gives pilots the ability to overlay all manner of information on the same navigational display (e.g., terrain, borders, air routes, navaids, etc.).
• Vertical profile with terrain display.
• Terrain threats – especially on approach and landing – are computed from on-board database and aircraft trajectory, are displayed on the map.
• An end to confusion.  Before any change affecting the aircraft's trajectory is validated (e.g. flight plan), pilots see the consequences graphically in both horizontal and vertical planes.  Validation is confirmed by color change.
• More head-up time, thanks to the graphical user interface with CCD (see below) and glareshield-mounted radio tuning knob.

Reduced Cockpit Workload 

• Pilots always have the choice of working either in graphical mode (using the cursor) or in direct mode (using the keyboard).
• Fewer control devices are needed to operate the system (only half as many as current Falcons have), and all are placed within more natural reach.
• Graphical management improves the speed and accuracy of many functions (especially graphical flight planning).
• Intelligent menu management.  For example, when entering a flight plan, as soon as a field is filled, the cursor goes directly to the next item.
• Checklists have certain auto-sensing functions (e.g., the flap setting checks itself off when its condition is met), and pop up automatically when requested – an important step toward the paperless cockpit.
• Many items, such as the operation pitot heat, are now automated.

EASy in a Nutshell

Think of EASy as Dassault's philosophy implemented on the hardware platform of Honeywell's Primus Epic system, because that's exactly what it is.

Dassault and Honeywell worked closely together on the project, each in its own area of expertise.  Dassault, as the primary system architect, concentrated mainly on human-factors philosophy, achieving a new type of man-machine interface, one that is both highly intuitive and highly interactive.  This is an important key to improving situational awareness, Dassault contends.

Honeywell’s Primus Epic system brings advantages in reliability, spares availability, display quality and all the other hardware attributes.  Honeywell adapted this basic hardware system in ways that met Dassault's unique objectives.

The EASy cockpit has four Primus Epic screens (14.1 inches diagonal measurement) that can display all information from aircraft sensors affecting systems, communications, navigation, and flight management.  These screens are the key to the pilots' control over all those functions, and it is in this respect that EASy sets itself apart from other avionics systems using the same Primus Epic platform.

Dassault's Cursor Control Device (CCD)

Dassault's Cursor Control Device (CCD) is the pilots' primary means of controlling the EASy flight deck.  Everything can be done with Windows-like pull-down and pop-up menus using a trackball and mouse controller called a CCD.  Each pilot has their own CCD, located at the back the pedestal, where one's inside hand naturally falls in its relaxed position. The CCD is as easy to use as the mouse on a PC.  Aside from the trackball, it includes fingertip controls for display of switching and menu selection, plus a multifunction knob.

Using the CCD is fast and intuitive.  Compared to a keyboard, the CCD is relatively unaffected by changing environmental conditions such as darkness or turbulence.

With the CCD, pilots control every function faster, more accurately and without diverting eyes from the panel (as would be necessary with old-fashioned keyboards mounted on the pedestal).  The result is more head-up time and, thereby, a safer cockpit.

By making the system more intuitive, more interactive and more adaptable to pilots' needs, Dassault has brought a higher level of situational awareness to the business jet cockpit.

EASy Architecture and Functions

The EASy cockpit's four screens (landscape orientation) are arranged in a "T" configuration, along with two CCDs (cursor control devices) and two MKBs (multifunction keyboards) on the pedestal.

The two outboard PDUs (primary display units), are situated directly in front of the pilots, and provide all tactical information essential to piloting the aircraft.  Their traditional PFD presentations are accompanied by engine parameters, aircraft configuration, and red and amber failure messages from the CAS (crew alerting system).

The two inboard MDUs (multifunction display units), are stacked vertically in the center of the instrument panel, where they are both visible and accessible to both pilots.  The MDUs are configurable to display pilot-selectable strategic information.  Typically the upper MDU is used to control and display navigational functions, while the lower MDU handles FMS, systems pages, checklists, etc.

Automatic Checklists

Automatic checklists are one of the best examples of EASy's interactive qualities.  As soon as a required action has been performed (such setting flaps for takeoff), EASy's auto-sensing feature checks that item off, changes its color from blue to green and then opens the next item on that particular checklist.  It also provides secure options to override or defer any item.

EASy checklists are linked to synoptic system displays, which pop up adjacent to the checklist window, at appropriate moments.  For example, when a fuel-related item on the checklist is reached, a fuel-system diagram is displayed to show the real-time status of pumps and transfer valves, along with a graphic depiction of fuel quantities in each tank.

Graphical Flight Planning

EASy makes flight planning intuitive, because it is graphically based. Either pilot simply clicks on an icon depicting the phase of flight (initialization, climb, cruise, descent), which brings up the associated menus.  Compared to previous systems, EASy requires very little data entry because most of the information – airports, airways, navaids, radio frequencies, and so forth – is already stored in its databases.

The complete aircraft performance database is stored in the system also, so EASy can automatically calculate everything from takeoff performance (runway length and V-speeds) to climb schedules, fuel reserves and landing distance.

As the flight progresses, EASy displays whatever new information is required, appropriate or desired for that phase.  (Pilot options are always available as well.)  For example, on descent, the system's look-ahead display can show the approach transition, STAR (standard terminal arrival), runway data and so forth.  And if ATC changes the arrival, either pilot can update the flight plan in a matter of seconds just by clicking on that window's "Current Settings" and making menu selections.  Other windows can simultaneously display the digital ATIS information as well as key performance information such as landing weight, required vs. usable runway length and approach speed.

Navigating, the EASy Way

The upper MDU is typically assigned to navigational functions, and a variety of data can be selected (or, alternatively, suppressed) on the map display, ranging from airports to radar. In mountainous areas, terrain information is usually displayed for departures and arrivals. Pilots can range in-or-out as required and select map rotation (either "north at top" or "heading on top").

By clicking on any facility or waypoint, pilots call up a pop-up menu giving access to any required information or function.  For example, if CHE (Cheyenne, Wyoming) is one of the waypoints, clicking at CHE on the map display brings up a window offering many choices, such as:

• Center Map
• Go Direct
• Amend Route
• Cross...
• Hold...
• Divert After
• Tune Nav 1
• Tune Nav 2
• Show Info…

Clicking on any of these instantly accomplishes that function, or opens up the next menu.  If a pilot selects "Tune Nav 1", EASy instantly finds that VOR frequency in its database and tunes Nav 1 to that frequency.

Cockpit of the Future

Dassault's goal with the EASy cockpit is to create an environment which promotes intuitive flying and increases a pilot's situational awareness. With the use of the track ball and easy-to-read screens, a pilot can easily maintain a heads-up attitude, increasing perspective and situational awareness.  A pilot's sense of their surroundings, inside and outside of the plane, is essential to safe and comfortable flying.  Dassault is dedicated to developing advanced technology with an eye towards maximizing a pilot's capabilities and performance.  02-26-2005.