Aircraft

US business aviation services company Garrett/Piedmont Hawthorne/Associated has received supplemental type certification for installation of the Rockwell Collins IDS-3000 integrated display system in the FJ44 Eagle II – a Cessna 501-series Citation re-engined by Garrett with Williams International FJ44 turbofans.

The cockpit upgrade is available with two or three 205 x 255mm (8 x 10in) liquid-crystal displays, and includes turbulence-detection weather radar, digital air-data computers, and a file server for the IFIS integrated flight information system, which displays electronic charts.

An attitude heading reference system and XM Satellite real-time graphical weather receiver are options.

Of the 20 Citations so far re-engined by Garrett, one has undergone the cockpit upgrade, with three more in work.

The company has also certificated a four-display IDS-3000 upgrade for the Dassault Falcon 200, which includes IFIS.

The IDS-3000 is a less expensive alternative to a major retrofit with Collins’ Pro Line 21 integrated flightdeck, which can cost two to four times as much, but uses the same displays.

Raytheon Aircraft Services has introduced a cabin entertainment system installation programme that allows Beechcraft and Hawker business aircraft to be upgraded during scheduled maintenance downtime.

Operators will be able to choose between pre-packaged options that include XM Satellite radio, moving maps, DVD players, colour monitors and speakers.