EASA Certifies Universal Avionics' Synthetic Vision

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has certified Universal Avionics' SVS (synthetic vision system).

Universal's Vision-1 computer generates real-time images of terrain ahead of the aircraft that are orientated to the aircraft's vertical and lateral position when displayed on Universal's EFI-890R, MFD-640 or EFI-550 flat panel LCDs (liquid crystal displays).  The effect is to give the pilot a wingman's view of the fight profile based on the flight plan entered into the airplane's FMS (flight management system).

The system's terrain imagery is rendered in topographical coloring similar to that used on aviation sectional charts.  Hills and mountains appear in shades of green and brown while oceans and other large bodies of water are colored blue.  Special shading on the digitized terrain and the grid overlay that conform to the landscape on the synthetic world provide a sense of movement in flight.

The ETSOA (European technical standard order authorization) will allow European operators to use Universal's Vision-1 in their aircraft.  04-27-2007.

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