Honeywell and Jeppesen to Team on E-Charts

The paperless cockpit goal of Honeywell Primus Epic, as implemented in Dassault EASy and Gulfstream PlaneView cockpits, is coming closer to reality, with the signing of an agreement between Honeywell and Jeppesen to incorporate Jeppesen navigation data into these systems. Epic cockpits also will be able to display obstructions, geo-political boundaries, airport information and special-use airspace boundaries.

The alliance between the two firms will enable Primus Epic systems to display Jeppesen departure, arrival, approach and airport e-charts. Eventually high- and low-altitude airways will be added to the list of features.

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Actual implementation of such features will be paced by the certification efforts of Dassault and Gulfstream, according to John Uczekaj, Honeywell's executive vp and general manager of business, regional and general aviation. "There are all kinds of certification issues, so it's a little fuzzy. But, I can tell you we're planning to get it done sometime next year," Uczekaj explained.

Epic's integrated navigation (INAV) system will offer terrain, traffic and weather hazard overlays at first certification. E-charts are just the start of a new generation of features that will be incorporated into its INAV functionality. The charts will not have moving airplane symbols due to of certification constraints, according to Uczekaj. However, future versions may have many more advanced features, such as three-dimensional displays including terrain charts and tunnel-in-the-sky flight guidance.
"The Epic platform has plenty of growth opportunities. INAV is the umbrella under which these capabilities will happen," Uczekaj said.

By Fred George