You can't see it without a special invitation from an airframe manufacturer, but hidden behind a wall in Booth 5653, Honeywell's Tool for Rapid Advanced Cockpit Simulation (TRACS) is providing key customers, certification authorities and industry officials with an opportunity to "look at new ways to display information and control systems," according to Mark Snyder, a senior engineer with the firm's advanced cockpit development group.

Just as importantly, TRACS is a prime means by which customers can tell Honeywell's engineers what features they expect to find in cockpits of the next generation cockpit.

The success of next generation avionics is vitally dependent upon customer input because of fierce competition, say Honeywell marketing officials. TRACS essentially provides customers with the opportunity to design the cockpit of the future. "Pilots may say, 'Wow, that is really good stuff. But what does this really do for me in the cockpit?'" explained John Cummings, manager of product marketing for Honeywell's business and helicopter systems group. TRACS is as much an enhanced hearing system for listening to customers as it is an advanced development tool for engineers.

Honeywell created TRACS to slash the time it takes develop new products, thereby reducing cost. The tool provides Honeywell's engineers with the flexibility to develop software and hardware upgrades concurrently with an aircraft flight test program. Airframe manufacturers also use TRACS systems at their factories to evaluate pilot preferences and performance on an ongoing basis. Honeywell gathers data from airframers' TRACS systems, incorporates improvements and then e-mails TRACS software upgrades back to the airframers.

TRACS made its NBAA debut last year, but this year it has been fitted with four, 13- by 10-inch, landscape orientation flat panel screens for more display configuration flexibility. At last year's NBAA, TRACS was fitted with conventional Primus EPIC 10- by 8-inch displays, such as those that will be installed in the Raytheon Hawker Horizon.

TRACS also has been fitted with two types of cursor control devices (CCDs), either of which can be mounted at the end of a crew seat arm rest, thus providing better hand and arm support.

If you want a sneak peak at Honeywell's TRACS next generation cockpit development system, don't inquire at Booth 5653. Go see your favorite airframe manufacturer and ask for a private invitation. You might be able to influence the cockpit design of your next business aircraft.