Aspen Avionics has unveiled new software that will allow its Evolution flight displays to interface with Garmin’s GFC 600 autopilot, without the use of an adapter. They also announced that its Evolution displays no longer require a separate electronic or mechanical backup attitude indicator. With a one-display installation, backup turn and bank, altimeter, and airspeed indicators are still required, but when two Aspen displays are installed, no separate backup is required.
“This eliminates one of the most unreliable things on these airplanes, the vacuum pump [that drives mechanical attitude indicators],” said John Uczekaj, president and CEO of Aspen Avionics. “Customers can remove a highly unreliable device, gain the weight that goes with it, and have a reliable display."
Aspen expects the new software to be approved late in the third or early in the fourth quarter of this year. Garmin will own the STC, and Aspen is responsible for meeting TSO standards. The autopilot interface enables full functionality in the Aspen primary flight display (PFD), with altitude, vertical speed, and airspeed selectable on the PFD or GFC 600 control panel. The autopilot includes flight director capability as well. Priced at $1,995, v.2.12 features add extended runway centerlines on multi-function display moving maps; selected altitude/airspeed output for Trio autopilots; and better auto brightness levels, something that was requested by customers.
Like this article? Please share it with your friends and invite others to read our blog.
Comments