Rockwell Collins has announced that it is now offering three new upgrade packages for Pro Line II-equipped Beechcraft King Air 350 twin turboprops. The upgrades will enable operators to comply with upcoming airspace mandates. It is formally launching the trio of options here at EBACE and also offering incentives for King Air operators to upgrade to a new touchscreen Pro Line Fusion flight deck with its larger, 14-in displays.

Craig Olson, vice president and general manager business and regional systems for the U.S company (Booth UO73), told AIN the upgrade packages would allow operators to comply with the avionics requirements mandated under SESAR, and its NextGen equivalent in the U.S.

All three options include automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B), synthetic vision, updated flight management system (FMS) with localizer performance and approach procedures with vertical guidance (LPV/APV), radius-to-fix (RF) legs and the latest version of integrated flight information system (IFIS).

“Rockwell Collins this year is placing a lot of emphasis on airspace modernization. We want to ensure that we have a wide range of offerings, especially as operators figure out how to do ADS-B and FANS,” said Olson. With FANS 1/A, Falcon 50EX operators will comply with regulations for operating over the North Atlantic and be able to access preferred wind-efficient transatlantic routes to save time and fuel.

“One of the things we’re trying to reinforce is that, in our experience with mandates, that customers tend to procrastinate–so we’re really making a strong push, as the mandate deadline is now less than 1,500 days away.”

The upgrades Rockwell Collins is now “bringing forward” are both FAA- and EASA validated as STCs and enable all King Air 350s to be upgraded. They are all available through the Rockwell Collins authorized dealer network.

Pro Line Fusion Incentives

Alternatively, operators can opt for the company’s touchscreen-based Pro Line Fusion 14-inch LCD avionics upgrade. As an incentive to go to Pro Line Fusion, for King Air 350s equipped with Pro Line II, the company has expanded its offer to include Flight Management System (FMS) navigation database updates and coverage under its Corporate Aircraft Service Program (CASP) program at no additional charge for three years.

CASP is supported by a global dealer network of more than 250 facilities that service and repair Rockwell Collins’ avionics and cabin systems. Highlighted features include: unlimited exchanges, rentals and repairs; parts ship within 24 hours; labor and overnight shipping in the U.S is included; up to five no-fault-found failures are allowed.

The company said the bundled Pro Line Fusion upgrade is available for a limited time through Rockwell Collins-authorized dealers. It also includes a manufacturer’s extended warranty on new equipment -+ to three years.

“This extremely competitive Pro Line Fusion bundle for legacy King Air 350s provides owners more peace of mind with essentially zero annual cost for avionics,” said Olson. “Plus, upgrading to Pro Line Fusion modernizes the cockpit to closely match what is being delivered from the factory, which will provide much higher aircraft value in the long run.”

Pro Line Fusion is also designed to accommodate future technology enhancements such as the Rockwell Collins HGS-3500 Head-up Guidance System, EVS-3000 Enhanced Vision System and Airport Moving Map.

 “All of our King Air STCs are also available to the aftermarket,” said Olson, who added, “We’ve already got a lot of traction in the marketplace.” He said that Rockwell is “starting to feel good about the aftermarket in Europe.” While admitting this is driven to some extent by the airspace mandates, he also claimed the company’s analysis of the market indicates “a recovery in the bizav arena.”

Also at EBACE, the company is rolling out a new approach to CASP. Olson said that previously the whole CASP offering had been “a bit of an overkill for some” so it has introduced a three-tier approach, CASP Elite at the top end, CASP and CASP Essentials. Each one is a three-year term, so it increases the warranty on new aircraft/systems from the usual two years, said Olsen. “One of the other compelling things is that customers get turnkey compliance to airspace modernization, and it also strengthens the residual [values].”

Falcon Fusion

“We’re also working very hard to expand the portfolio of EASA certifications,” said Olson. “We’re putting a lot of energy into the [Dassault] Falcons – the FANS 1/A for the Falcon 50EX has now been certified, and combines with FANS-1/A training.” He noted that for FANS-1/A operators have to obtain a letter of authorization from their regulatory authority. “Lots of operators are not familiar with that, so we’re throwing in support, and one-year’s access to ArincDirect.”

The certification is held by Dassault but the STC is also available through all the Rockwell Collins authorized dealers, Olson said. The solution is available as an option with the Pro Line 4-to-Pro Line 21 upgrade.

The company’s FANS 1/A solution is already fitted to more than 300 Pro Line Fusion equipped Bombardier Global 5000/6000s and Gulfstream G280s and is also available for Bombardier Challengers and Pro Line 21-equipped Falcon 2000s (or as part of a Pro Line 4-to-21 upgrade).

Finally, Olson was keen to give an update on Rockwell Collins’s project with Duncan Aviation (Booth G089) of Lincoln, Nebraska, on upgrading Cessna Citation CJ3s to Pro Line Fusion. This was announced at last November’s NBAA convention, with the upgrade having since received interest from “a large number of customers,” he told AIN. “Many have come forward and signed up well ahead of it being ready – it will be available to the market in early 2017. The package is “similar to the King Air” one in that it is designed to be an all-in-one approach including compliance with all upcoming mandates, and also having the latest touchscreen displays.

Head-up Safety

Olson said that he used to head up the company’s Head-up Guidance System (HGS) business unit in Portland, Oregon. “Our compact HUD is now available for aircraft that weren’t previously able to take a HUD,” he explained. This was achieved by putting the projector below the screen rather than above the pilot’s head, and using a refracting prism rather than projection. “So we were able to put it in the Embraer Legacy, for example, and you’ll see a variety of applications [in the future]. Our roadmap has us bringing it to the King Air and a variety of other platforms.

Ultimately he said “we’re really driving towards a combined vision system to take sensor inputs and the database in SVS to give a ‘best view. We see this as incredibly powerful.” He agreed that this could come to light GA aircraft, ultimately, as it “reduces stress in low vis.” He even suggested that one day pilots might not need instrument ratings as they’d always be able to see clearly, in “visual equivalent operations.”

The company acquired HUD specialist Flight Dynamics in Portland, Oregon back in 1979 (it initially acquired half, then added the other 50 percent in 1999). Olson said it was “one of the most successful acquisitions for Rockwell Collins,” and that Boeing had failed to see the potential as Alaska Airlines pushed to have the first HUDS on its 737s, starting in the mid-1980s.

ArincDirect Continues Integration

Dave Poltorak, Rockwell Collins v-p and general manager for business aviation, Information Management Systems, said that ArincDirect continues to evolve after the company’s acquisition of Arinc two years ago. The business unit now consists of cabin services, international trip support (based in Houston) and flight support services (based in Annapolis, Maryland, where Arinc was based).

“It’s well beyond the original software offering,” he said. Rockwell Collins acquired flight-support company Air Routing International five-to-six years ago, creating its Ascend business unit, which is now part of ArincDirect.

He said that there were “no big headlines” on the ArincDirect app for EBACE “but we have a good list of capabilities. We’ll roll out a number of new features soon, for example, a change in the display, and a switch to Apple Mapping.” He added that ArincDirect now has 5,000 users worldwide but noted a trend towards customers wanting to “pay as you go,” especially for international trip support. Also operators seem to prefer products related to the cockpit, “to be on subscription, while cabin services tend to be pay-as-you-go…they are different business models.”