Continental Makes Debut with Pro Line 21

The maiden flight of Bombardier’s super-midsize Continental on August 14 marked the debut of a reconfigured version of Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line 21 integrated avionics system with large-format active-matrix displays. The Continental’s flight-deck layout includes four 12- by 10-in. liquid crystal flight displays, consolidated control panels, TCAS II and terrain awareness warning system as standard equipment. Optional equipment comprises turbulence-detection weather radar and 3-D FMS navigation map presentation. Bombardier plans to use five aircraft in the flight-test program, each equipped with the Collins Pro Line 21 avionics suite. The airplane is on schedule for type certification and first deliveries before the end of next year, according to Bombardier. As the jet’s avionics system integrator, Rockwell Collins is responsible for all aspects of the avionics program, from design through certification.