GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Flight tests start as Canadian manufacturer sets sights on system approval on Global Express in early 2005
Bombardier has begun flight tests aimed at gaining certification of an enhanced vision system (EVS) on the Global Express long-range business jet in the first quarter of 2005. Aerodynamic flight testing of a prototype installation is under way at the Canadian manufacturer's test centre in Wichita, Kansas.
Whereas Gulfstream's already certificated EVS has the infrared sensor mounted under the nose, the Bombardier enhanced vision system (BEVS) has the sensor mounted just below the windscreen, closer to the pilot's line of sight. Flight tests will evaluate the impact of the aerodynamic fairing and viewing glass on altitude reporting for reduced vertical separation minima operations, and on overall air data system performance in icing conditions.
CMC Electronics will deliver its SureSight I-series infrared (IR) sensor to BEVS developer Thales Avionics in July. The dual-band IR sensor will be integrated with the Global Express's Thales-supplied pilot's head-up display (HUD) and co-pilot's head-down display. The BEVS will be standard on Global Express production aircraft from 2005 and will be available for retrofit. HUD and BEVS will also be available for the super-large Global 5000 derivative, which is now in flight test.
Gulfstream's EVS, meanwhile, is now operational on the large-cabin GIV-SP, having entered service last year on the long-range GV. EVS has been installed in 34 GVs and the 40-system backlog is divided equally between the GV and GIV/GV-SP. In Gulfstream's rebranded and expanded product line-up, the Kollsman-produced system is standard on the ultra-long-range G550 and available on the large-cabin G300 and G400 and long-range G500. Gulfstream is studying adapting the system to the super mid-size G200. A smaller sensor is required to preserve the aircraft's aerodynamics, and the company is looking at "innovative ways" of installing the HUD in the G200's smaller cockpit.
Cessna plans to certificate a Max-Viz EVS in the high-speed Citation X and mid-size Citation Sovereign late this year. The EVS-2000 combines a nose-mounted dual-channel sensor with a head-down display, as no HUD is yet available for any of the Citation series. The Citation CJ1, C2, CJ3, Bravo, Encore and Excel will be offered with the single-channel EVS-1000. Dassault is evaluating the EVS-1000 on its Falcon 900EX demonstrator, with a tail-mounted sensor and head-down display.
Portland, Oregon-based Max-Viz has supplemental type certification (STC) for the tail-mounted EVS-1000 on the Bombardier Challenger, and expects retrofit approval on the Falcon 50 in July and on the Falcon 900EX and Learjet 35 in August. EVS-1000 STCs are also in the works for several helicopters, including the Bell 206, 407 and 412 and Eurocopter AS350/355.
Source: Flight International
