Winner: Rockwell Avionics & Communications, Collins General Aviation division
Location Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA Achievement Making advanced avionics and satellite-based navigation available for mid-size corporate jets
The advent of satellite-based navigation and communications has clearly had a radical impact on the air-transport industry. As reliance on conventional ground-based systems disappears, it is a revolution which will also increasingly affect every corner of the world aviation community.
Rockwell's Collins General Aviation division recognised this fact with the launch of the Collins AVSAT, a new family of advanced avionics designed for business jets. At the end of 1996 it added to the family with the certification of the Collins AVSAT 5000 aboard a Beechjet 400A, bringing the advantages of modern electronic flight instrument systems, complete with satellite-based communications and navigation, to mid-sized and small corporate jets.
The system, developed with input from industry and user groups, brings a high degree of cockpit automation, helping to reduce pilot workload and enhance situational awareness.
Integrated global-positioning-system (GPS) navigation, satellite communications and datalinking options also allow corporate-jet operators to access the same optimal routings and general cost-benefits which are already being exploited within the airline industry.
The Awards judges believe that Collins should be recognised for its work in bringing advanced integrated avionics to a new section of the aviation industry, which could otherwise have found itself left out in the rapidly evolution of new airspace management systems.
Source: Flight International
