News Release
GULFSTREAM ADVANCED FLIGHT DECK TECHNOLOGY GROUP CREATES NEW CAPABILITIES FOR PLANEVIEW®
SAVANNAH , Ga. , Sept. 24, 2007 – Gulfstream’s Advanced Flight Deck Technology group continues to develop enhancements to Gulfstream’s signature flight deck, PlaneView ®. Introduced in 2000 for Gulfstream’s new ultra-long-range G550 business jet, PlaneView was designed by pilots and software and human-factors engineers to improve safety by reducing pilot workload and improving pilot situational awareness.
PlaneView presents information in a user-friendly manner with large displays and easy-to-use software. The PlaneView flight deck also includes a unique tool to access a vast amount of flight-critical information. Gulfstream’s signature Cursor Control Device (CCD) allows pilots to retrieve flight plans, maps, charts and checklists by way of point-and-click, scrolling and push-button operations.
PlaneView is the most advanced flight deck available. It features Honeywell Primus Epic avionics in the large-cabin Gulfstream models and Rockwell Collins ProLine 21 avionics in mid-cabin Gulfstream models. PlaneView is specifically designed to evolve as new technologies arise, according to Pres Henne, senior vice president, programs, engineering and test, Gulfstream.
“Prior to PlaneView, flight decks showed their age relatively quickly,” Henne said. “But PlaneView changed all that. We recognized early on that it had to be modular in design and easily upgradeable. As technology continues to evolve, PlaneView can accommodate it. By simply replacing older components with newer ones and uploading new software, we have already added new functionality to the flight deck and we continue to look for additional ways to deliver future capabilities.”
Certification Delta
In March 2007, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified the most recent large-cabin PlaneView upgrade, known as Certification Delta. Comprised of a new software upload accompanied by component replacements (primarily radios that enable high-speed VHF data links), Certification Delta is now being incorporated in Gulfstream large-cabin PlaneView-equipped aircraft – the G550, G500, G450 and G350.
With this certification comes PlaneConnect ™, a new air-to-ground data link that automatically transmits the aircraft’s fault history data collected during flight to the customer’s e-mail and, at the customer’s request, to Gulfstream Technical Operations. In the event of a maintenance issue developing in-flight, PlaneConnect alerts ground staff so necessary parts and technicians can be routed to the arriving airport.
“Of all the new enhancements to PlaneView that Certification Delta brings, PlaneConnect is probably the most exciting,” continued Henne. “It’s a great diagnostic tool that not only is timely and accurate, but also sets into motion a solution should a maintenance problem arise in flight.”
Certification Delta includes enhancements that enable point-and-click graphical flight planning, graphical tuning of radios and navigational aids, and rapid transition from Maps to Charts with just a double-click on the Cursor Control Device (CCD). Gulfstream also added an Automatic Dependent Surveillance (ADS-A) system. ADS-A automatically reports an aircraft’s position when it is outside the range of air traffic control radar, eliminating the need for pilots to initiate high-frequency voice radio calls.
VGP (VNAV Glide Path) mode is included w ith Certification Delta. It allows pilots to fly a Flight Management System (FMS) approach similar to an Instrument Landing System (ILS) approach with a missed approach altitude pre-selected. Finally, with Certification Delta installed, operators can augment their avionics suite by adding the advanced Honeywell Runway Awareness and Advisory System (RAAS), which provides an extra level of safety when operating on the ground.
Gulfstream’s Signature Cursor Control Device (CCD)
Gulfstream was the first business-jet manufacturer to include an integrated Cursor Control Device in its flight deck. E rgonomically designed for stabilized hand motion in turbulence and for long-term comfort, the Gulfstream signature CCD was developed by Gulfstream engineers and pilots. The CCD enables pilots to make menu selections, zoom and pan maps and charts and perform graphical flight planning with minimal movement – just a point-and-click, push-button or scroll. They can even activate communications with air traffic controllers, cabin crew or guests in the cabin.
“When we developed the CCD, we knew it would change the work dynamics in the flight deck, but we were unaware how significant that change would be,” Henne said. “Many of our pilots have stated they couldn’t imagine going back to a flight deck that doesn’t feature a CCD. It would be like office workers trading in their laptop computers for electric typewriters.”
With dual CCDs, both the pilot and the copilot have the ability to control three of the four display screens – their own primary flight display and the two center display units.
As of the end of August, 227 large-cabin aircraft are equipped and in service with dual CCDs, as are 25 wide-cabin, high-speed G150 aircraft. During G150 development, Gulfstream decided to include a nearly identical version of its large-cabin aircraft CCD, primarily because of its overwhelming popularity.
Looking Ahead – Certification Foxtrot
Members of Gulfstream’s Advanced Flight Deck Technology group continue to work on new capabilities for PlaneView. Targeted for FAA certification and large-cabin aircraft installations in 2008, Certification Foxtrot will logically lead PlaneView in the direction of future aircraft navigation.
“As more aircraft use the same amount of airspace, we will need to navigate with even more precision,” Henne said. “Certification Foxtrot will allow PlaneView-equipped aircraft to seamlessly adapt to new Global Positioning System-based approaches and more stringent Required Navigation Performance (RNP) procedures.”
Included in Certification Foxtrot will be Controller-Pilot DataLink Communications (CPDLC) to the Future Air Navigation System (FANS) 1/A protocol, which will be used mainly on oceanic routes. It will allow two-way communications with air traffic controllers for clearances and position reports. It also will include a GPS Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which enables the use of the lateral precision with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches currently being developed by the FAA for precision approaches without the need for additional ground infrastructure. Certification Foxtrot will support RNP 0.1, for precision area navigation (RNAV FMS) approaches requiring aircraft position accuracy to 0.1 nautical mile.
Certification Foxtrot will introduce new functionalities, including XM satellite weather display on moving maps; automatic transitions from FMS navigation to Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches and back to FMS for missed approaches; and electronic charts that allow the plane to depart without paper back-up. Additionally, displayed symbols and labels on maps will be improved and synthetic vision enhancements added, including range rings, grid lines and runway detailing. Gulfstream’s Synthetic Vision – Primary Flight Display (SV-PFD) is expected to be certified by the FAA before the end of 2007 and available to customers in the second quarter of 2008.
NOTE TO EDITORS
Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics (NYSE: GD), designs, develops, manufactures, markets, services and supports the world’s most technologically advanced business-jet aircraft. Gulfstream has produced some 1,600 aircraft for customers around the world since 1958. To meet the diverse transportation needs of the future, Gulfstream offers a comprehensive fleet of aircraft, comprising the wide-cabin, high-speed Gulfstream G150 ®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G200 ®; the large-cabin, mid-range Gulfstream G350 ®; the large-cabin, long-range G450 ®; the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G500 ® and the large-cabin, ultra-long-range Gulfstream G550 ®. Gulfstream also offers aircraft ownership services via Gulfstream Financial Services Division and Gulfstream Pre-Owned Aircraft Sales ®. The company employs more than 9,100 people at seven major locations. We invite you to visit our Web site for more information and photos of Gulfstream aircraft at www.gulfstream.com.
General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, employs approximately 82,900 people worldwide and anticipates 2007 revenues of more than $27 billion. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about the company is available online at www.generaldynamics.com.
