When Flight Display Systems was launched in 1999, it was with a moving map. Now, after eight years of an annual average growth rate of about 90 percent and some 4,400 new products later, the Alpharetta, Ga. company is no longer knocking at the door, they’re about to kick it in.

Just before the show, the news emerged about a new five-inch LCD display retrofit that can be easily attached to a cockpit glare shield, or even to the yoke, to give pilots of older airplanes a means to display such data as satellite weather information, flight cameras and enhanced-vision systems. At a price of “just under $5,000,” Flight Display figures it’s got a winner.

WX for the Cabin

Yesterday, it announced another innovation–XM WX satellite weather for the business jet cabin. It is shown in normal use as a moving map overlay at Flight Display’s booth (No. 1643).

The weather presentation includes Nexrad graphics updated every five minutes. The weather is color-coded to indicate storm severity. Maps are dynamically drawn 50, 500 and 5,000 miles wide. The weather upgrade is available for $1,997, plus installation, from network dealers and includes a one-year warranty on the Flight Display Moving Map computer. An external antenna, such as the CI420-1, costs $593 through Flight Display distributor DAC if XM is not already being used in the aircraft. In addition, a WxWorx WXP03D8V receiver, priced at $930 and a monthly subscription service fee of $29.99 is required to activate XM Aviator LT Service.

Also at NBAA, Flight Display is introducing its new passenger briefing system, featuring audio and video capabilities. It is designed as an upgrade item to the company’s moving map cabin entertainment and information system. A cockpit controller allows pilots to initiate audio and/or video briefings within the cabin, including safety, takeoff and turbulence announcements.  

The $1,397 price includes five generic passenger briefings. For navigation systems that do not provide airport identification information, the cockpit controller allows pilot keyboard input.

The controller is a small, one-inch Dzus-rail-mounted LED display with six buttons for pilot control, available in black or gray to match the instrument panel coloring.