Collins Increased Focus on Helicopters
Calls On Technology from Bizjet World

Pro Line 21 Continuum includes data communications, up-linked graphical weather and 3D FMS planning maps. It also supports such future functionality as enhanced mapping, electronic charting and improved terrain awareness. Operators can choose between integrated systems or individual products depending on the capability they need, Vester said. All helicopters with older Pro Line are particularly eligible, he added.

"There is no question we have stepped up our emphasis on the helicopter market, and recent wins are evidence of that." So says Bryan Vester, marketing director for Rockwell Collins business and regional avionics systems, here at Heli-Expo on Booth 1839.

Among the victories are supplying the Pro Line 21 glass cockpit for the BA 609 civil tiltrotor, providing the communication/navigation and sensor suite for the military Sikorsky S-92, and-announced here-providing Pro Line 21 CNS for some Eurocopter models

A live BA 609 cockpit, with its three 8x10 inch liquid crystal flat panel displays, can be seen on Collins' exhibit. Flight test hardware has already been delivered.
The CNS communications sensors handle both voice and the high speed, high integrity data communications that will be required for the emerging CNS/ATM Free Flight environment. Being significantly smaller and lighter than existing sensors, they are ideal for the rotorcraft market, Vester said. In addition they meet stringent environmental guidelines for HIRF, lightning and vibration.

Collins' second focus here at Heli-Expo is on Pro Line 21 Continuum, launched only last October. This is the the umbrella name given to a range of retrofit and upgrade equipment to bring advanced avionics capabilities to current-technology flight decks. Latest technologies are applied to key processing modules in the aircraft's avionics and display systems, resulting in a flexible, cost-effective and expandable architecture, Vester said.