Boeing plans to assemble the first representative engineering cockpit simulator for the 787 in late 2006, coinciding with the critical design review (CDR), which is expected to finalise the last remaining details of the flightdeck design, display configuration and overall cockpit layout.
“The preliminary design review phase is complete and the CDR will happen at about the same time that the [simulator] cab is complete,” says Boeing, which formally unveiled the 787’s flightdeck on 31 August.
As expected, the design features the largest display screens ever configured for a commercial airliner, with the cockpit dominated by five Rockwell Collins 305 x 230mm (12 x 9.1in) liquid-crystal flat-panel screens. The displays, four across the flightdeck and one in the control stand for emulation of the control display units (CDU), give 3,520cm2 (546in2) of display space, or twice that of the Boeing 777.
The design makes use of cursor control devices and a multifunction keypad for data entry and retrieval. Rockwell Collins is also supplying pilot controls, including the control stand, auto-throttles, and pitch, roll, yaw and controls, as well as their interfaces to the aircraft’s fly-by-wire flight control system.
The avionics and controls specialist says: “This new system is designed to meet Boeing’s objective of providing operators with a look and feel similar to the Boeing 777 while achieving significant weight savings.”
Rockwell Collins is also providing a newly developed integrated surveillance system (ISS) for the 787 that incorporates weather detection, traffic alert and collision avoidance, Mode S surveillance, and terrain awareness and warning in a single box.
More details about this system will be revealed later this year, says Rockwell, which also provides the aircraft’s communication system, including VHF, HF and satellite communication.
The lighter-weight VHF is Mode 2 datalink capable with future growth to VDL 3 and 4, while the smaller satcom supports the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s safety services, three channels of voice communications and offers growth to future Inmarsat Swift high-speed data capabilities.
As part of the communications package, Rockwell Collins is also providing the digital flightdeck audio system, and the cockpit voice and flight data recording system.
Source: Flight International
