Thumbs Up for BAE's Heads Up
as Gulfstream Orders Hit 200

More than a HUD, it's a whole Visual Guidance Gystem, available on Gulfstreams.

BAE Systems Avionics Group has brought its Visual Guidance System (VGS) commercial head-up display to EBACE, set up in a cockpit simulator you can "fly" in Booth 7457. The company has already delivered over 200 VGS units to Gulfstream for fitting to GIV-SPs and GVs by its Honeywell partner.

Certification is expected soon of Honeywell's infrared Enhanced Visual System (EVS) on the VGS for Gulfstream aircraft.

"The equipment is selling to our product forecasts," reports Tom Rogers, BAE's VGS project manager. "We are also offering a VGS for the Bombardier Global Express as a retrofit option, with certification and first deliveries available this year." BAE Systems Canada (soon to change its name as it leaves the BAE umbrella) is the prime contractor, and it will continue working with the British company on adding enhanced visual features to the VGS.

The VGS is also being sold to Boeing 737-800 airliner operators.

The HUD provides crews with improved situational awareness and operating minima. The VGS allows pilots to monitor primary flight and power management information in their forward field of view as well as the image outside the cockpit. It also displays information from TCAS, EGPWS, DGPS and windshear detection systems. It allows current take-off minima to be reduced by 50%, according to the company.

By John Morris