Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Beechcraft King Air 300, 350, and 360 series

Beechcraft King Air 200, 250, and 260 Series

Hawker 600/700/800/900 and BAE 125 Series

Matt Thurber

Collins Aerospace is a prominent aerospace and defense company specializing in the development and manufacture of advanced technology solutions. They offer a wide range of products and services, including avionics, aircraft interiors, mission systems, and space systems. 

Collins Aerospace is offering key upgrades to its Pro Line 21 avionics in King Air 200/300-series turboprops and Hawker 750/800/900-series jets; Pro Line Fusion upgrades to factory-installed avionics in King Air 200/300s; and a Pro Line 21 to Pro Line Fusion upgrade for the King Air 200/300. Each of these upgrades in the Collins flight deck modernization program will include availability of FANS 1/A+ and controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) and European ATN B1, enabling the latest next-gen communications capabilities.
The supplemental type certificate (STC) for Pro Line 21 to Pro Line Fusion for the King Air 200/300 is expected in June, according to Collins Aerospace v-p and general manager of business and regional avionics Nathan Voight. This will bring Pro Line Fusion’s touchscreen technology to older King Airs, matching the capability of factory-new King Airs that have the Fusion suite.
Under this upgrade, Collins is also including required navigation performance and localizer performance with vertical guidance approach capability. Other features are Collins’ MultiScan weather radar with automatic scanning, privacy ICAO address for ADS-B position anonymity, and accommodation of various engine and propeller combinations such as Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PT6A-52 and PT6A-67A Blackhawk engine conversions.
For King Air 200/300s already equipped with Pro Line Fusion, a January 2025 STC will upgrade these airplanes to the latest Fusion software, adding the MultiScan radar; FANS 1/A+, CPDLC, and ATN B1; and privacy ICAO address.
Also in January 2025, King Air 200/300s with Pro Line 21 will have availability of an STC to add MultiScan radar; FANS 1/A+, CPDLC, and ATN B1; privacy ICAO address; and dual flight management system and GPS options. This allows these owners to gain these new features without going for the full Fusion upgrade.
Hawker 750/800/900 owners were able to upgrade Pro Line 21 avionics to the same features as the King Air 200/300 with a May 2024 STC that received UK CAA approval in October and EASA approval last month.
More non-U.S. STCs for all of the above “are still to come,” according to Voight. Pricing information is available from Collins dealers.
“Collins' flight deck modernization program provides pilots the intuitive and responsive flight deck performance needed to operate in ever-evolving and complex global airspaces,” he said. “The Pro Line updates were designed with the end user in mind, focusing on advanced functionality to make flight simpler, safer, and more connected.”

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

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Each of the upgrades in the Collins flight deck modernization program will include availability of FANS 1/A+ & controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC).

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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

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News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

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News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

In this article

King Air 300 Series

King Air 200 Series

Hawker 600/700/800/900 and BAE 125 Series

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