Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013 - 8

PILOT’S GUIDE

New Avionics Products Highlighted by

AND CAPABILITY
haracterizing the Aircraft Electronics Association’s 2012 New Product Introductions at the 55th annual AEA International Convention and Trade Show isn’t difficult, but three themes would have to be in the description: flexibility, connectivity and capability. Despite the flashy hardware, fancy animations and full-fledged array of options in each and every product category, these were the hallmark concepts being marketed at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in Washington, D.C., April 3-6. This event attracts the largest gathering of general aviation avionics professionals in the industry. There was a lot of technology, too. New products and partnerships being leveraged by the 2020 mandate for ADS-B Out equipment were available throughout the AEA Exhibit Hall. Growing demand for convenient solutions bringing the latest and greatest audio/video experience means in-flight entertainment can easily be the functional and qualitative equivalent of a home theater. And, the same devices we use to browse the Web and make telephone calls when on the ground can be used to control it all. Along the way, the actual avionics – you know, the stuff that navigates and communicates – hasn’t been forgotten. In fact, avionics manufacturers are paying greater attention to marrying consumer-level ease-of-use with advances in displaying, controlling and automating critical flight information. But, here’s the thing: Those three themes – flexibility, connectivity and capability – are woven tightly into almost every product announcement made at the AEA Convention. Avionics equipment now connects directly to personal electronic devices like the iPad, even as many cabin management or in-flight entertainment options can be controlled the
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FLEXIBILITY, CONNECTIVITY
B Y J O S E P H E . ( J E B )

S T O R Y

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same way. If a customer wants to upgrade only a portion of an installation, it is likely that additional capabilities are easy to add thanks to the networked architecture employed. And, when it comes time to perform even a minor cabin refurbishment, it’s also likely new products and standards mean greater installation and operational flexibility. The new products introduced at the AEA International Convention & Trade show were all that and more. Not convinced? Here are the details.

Accord Technology
Accord Technology LLC announced its latest GPS receiver/sensor, the NexNav MAX GPS WAAS, recently received Federal Aviation Administration authorization under TSO-C145c. The product is the latest entry in Accord’s NexNav family of civil aviation GPS receivers and sensors, which the company said is a key solution in its offerings of affordable civil aviation X MA av GPS products. xN e ’s N The NexNav MAX is ogy nol the same sensor used in the ech T ord Esterline CMC SmartDeck avionics Acc suite, and provides position sensing for the Eclipse Aerospace Avio integrated flight management system, according to the company.
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Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013