The Honeywell Aerospace exhibit here at EBACE (Booth W089) once again features an impressive array of cabin and cockpit technology. The U.S. company’s technological prowess is also much in evidence in many of the leading aircraft highlights of this year’s show, including Bombardier’s new Global 7000/8000 jets, the Dassault Falcon 5X and 8X, Embraer’s Legacy 450 and 500 and the Pilatus PC-24.

At the exhibit, visitors can try out the latest Ovation Select cabin management system, with surround sound speakers, high-definition monitors and PlayStation gaming. They also can see the hardware for the company’s GX Aviation connectivity package for the Ka-band JetWave service, as well as its Primus Epic cockpit display, Primus Elite Du885 and 875 cockpit display upgrades and Bendix King AeroWave 100 connectivity system for general aviation.

Another show highlight from Honeywell is the Oculus Rift 3-D headset that allows visitors to get a vivid experience of its visual technology innovations for both the cabin and the cockpit. The system gives a clear impression of how a whole host of systems function, including the flight management system, satellite communications, synthetic vision, the Ovation Select cabin management system (CMS) and Ka-band connectivity.

Bombardier was the first airframer to sign an exclusivity agreement for the GX Aviation equipment to be standard on the new Global aircraft with a view to providing its customers connectivity rates of up to 30 MB per second. “We have the cleanest [system] architecture from our exclusive agreement with [satellite provider] Inmarsat,” claimed Mike Beazley, global sales vice president for Honeywell’s business and general aviation division. “The system uses just three satellites to cover the world so that limits the number of handovers and gives a lower risk of dropped calls.”

Two of three satellites for GX Aviation have been launched and the third is due to be in place by the end of June. Certification is due to be complete by the end of this year and Honeywell is set to begin flight tests in its Boeing 757 testbed this month. Bombardier will receive the first units in the third quarter of this year.

For Dassault’s new in-development 5X and 8X models, Honeywell’s contribution is the EASy III Epic cockpit suite. “We have a very good [avionics] legacy with Dassault on all their platforms and we’ve extended this with the latest version of the Epic,” said Beazley. “We’ve also got a successful aftermarket program with Dassault [for avionics upgrades], and when they see this type of support and roadmap [for improvements for their customers] they like that.”

For Embraer’s new midsize jets, Honeywell’s main contribution is their powerplant. Both the Legacy 500 and 450 models are powered by a pair of the company’s HTF7500E turbofans–each rated at 7,036 pounds’ thrust in the case of the former, and 6,080 pounds’ thrust for the latter. Both aircraft also feature Honeywell’s 150-36 auxiliary power unit (APU), as well as the Ovation Select cabin management system. It also is providing the APUs for Bombardier’s new Global jets.

“The HTF engine has been selected by many OEMs and its reputation for reliability has helped drive sales,” commented Beazley. “In that thrust range, we have the engine of choice.”

The Ovation Select system is standard equipment on the Legacys. “The power-up time is shorter than anyone else’s and that’s a big factor when an operator is trying to get going,” said Beazley. “Also, there is no latency between the different displays or between games [played on the entertainment system].”

For the new Pilatus PC-24 jet, Honeywell has provided a full Apex avionics suite, just as it has for the PC-12NG single turboprop. According to Beazley, this delivers essentially the same architecture as the company’s Epic system that was developed for the cockpits of larger aircraft.

Honeywell expects this year’s EBACE show to be a busy one for its aftermarket sales team, which is offering retrofits, modifications and upgrades for equipment such as traffic and collision avoidance systems (TCAS), automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), as well its SmartRunway, SmartLanding and synthetic vision safety systems. The Ovation Select CMS is also available for retrofit.

“Since the economy is still sluggish in Europe, operators are keen to keep aircraft competitive and we can help them do that through retrofits supported by an extensive dealer network that can do installations for some mandates in just a few hours,” said Beazley.

Honeywell’s booth here at the show also will include a desk where operators can sign up for its MSP engine maintenance service plans, as well as its aircraft, mechanical and cabin protection plans. The company has increased its pool of spare parts in Europe to meet a commitment to replace failed components within 24 hours. o