Gulfstream First Planemaker To Offer SVS

Gulfstream formally launched a synthetic vision system (SVS)  development program yesterday at the Farnborough Air Show with avionics maker Honeywell. The software upgrade to the PlaneView cockpits in the G350 through G550 will bring a virtual-reality view of terrain, obstacles, water and runways to the flight displays. Code-named SV-PFD (synthetic vision-primary flight display), the program has a certification target for the middle of next year. The upgrade will be on the options lists of new models and offered to operators of in-service PlaneView-equipped Gulfstreams. The price won't be announced until further along in development, according to company executives. Meanwhile, Gulfstream said it is "on schedule" for FAA certification of its Enhanced Vision System II (EVSII). In the second quarter of next year, Gulfstream plans to replace its current Enhanced Vision System (EVS) with EVSII in new-production G550s and G450s.