Pilots flying aircraft equipped with Pro Line 21 avionics soon
will be able to say good-bye to practically all those yellow manila
envelopes that arrive every 14 days from Englewood, Colo. Recently,
Show News flew Rockwell-Collins' Challenger 601fitted with
a four-screen version of Pro Line 21 Continuum, equipped with
the new Integrated Flight Information System file server. Rockwell-Collins
expects to achieve full paperless E-chart approval in early 2004,
when dual IFIS file servers are fitted to Pro Line 21. Flight
crews will only have to carry a couple of Jepps manuals with en
route charts to fly IFR almost anywhere in the world.
Accompanied by Keith Kankelfitz, the firm's principal engineer
and flight test pilot for Pro Line 21, Show News strapped
into the left seat of the Challenger for a short demo flight in
the San Diego area. Prior to departure, Kankelfitz pointed out
several IFIS features, including its ability to download and display
a variety of weather charts, including NEXRAD maps, in real time.
IFIS also enables Pro Line 21 to display enhanced map overlays,
such as geopolitical and special-use airspace boundaries, and
bodies of water. IFIS also will enable operators to load software
updates by means of CD-ROMs. Growth versions of the system will
offer controller-to-pilot data link communications, assuming the
FAA eventually installs the required infrastructure, plus two-
and three-dimensional terrain depictions and video images from
natural light videocams or infrared EVS sensors.
Prior to main engine start, Kankelfitz selected the Jeppesen 10-9
airport E-chart for San Diego-Lindbergh International Airport.
A moving airplane indicator showed our precise position on JimsAir's
ramp. After start, we taxied to Runway 27, monitoring our progress
on the E-chart.
Switching to the departure procedure E-chart, we briefed the
takeoff and initial climb-out. The moving airplane indicator was
not available on the chart because it's not drawn to scale. But
once we switched to the San Diego-Brown Field VOR-A approach chart,
the moving airplane symbol reappeared on the chart. Notably, Rockwell-Collins
FMS boxes contain all circling approaches in the Jeppesen database,
unlike some other systems we've flown.
Crossing Poggi VOR inbound, we turned eastbound in preparation
for the circle to land maneuver. The moving airplane symbol provided
excellent situational awareness. On short final, Kankelfitz switched
to the Brown Field Airport diagram, so that we could monitor aircraft
position on roll-out and taxi back for takeoff. This function
may be automatically selected with weight-on-wheels in growth
versions of the system. We were impressed with how well the moving
airplane symbol would work for taxiing in low-visibility conditions.
Departing Brown for Lindbergh, Kankelfitz called up the Localizer
27 approach chart, enabling us to monitor our progress while flying
inbound to the airport. The entire flight lasted only 27 minutes,
but it convinced us that paper charts are destined to become aviation
relics in the near future. Rockwell-Collins' Pro Line 21 with IFIS
is on display at Booth 3275.
