Universal Avionics (UA, Booth 2268) is offering a new touchscreen model for its InSight Display System's EFIS Control Display Unit (ECDU). Its InSight display system is designed as an integrated flight deck solution for business aircraft—complete with synthetic vision, electronic charts, radio control, and broadcast weather. InSight can be installed as either forward-fit or retrofit, according to UA.
Dubbed Touch ECDU, the newest offering combines multiple InSight System controls, including the flight displays, flight management system (FMS), radios, weather, traffic, and terrain into a centralized control device. Pending FAA certification, UA expects the Touch ECDU and corresponding InSight software update to be available by year-end.
"Designed for efficiency, the Touch ECDU provides fast, easy access to programming InSight, improving upon the already easy-to-use system," said UA v-p of sales, marketing, and support Dan Reida. "It's a smarter way to use touchscreen technology."
The ECDU eliminates the need for external panels (that take up cockpit space) by integrating with the primary and multifunction displays, as well as standalone radios. Operators can use the Touch ECDU, cursor control panel, or both for unique and point-and-click system control.
In other news, the company—which was acquired by Elbit Systems in April— will release UniLink software version SCN 31.3 for the UL-80X Communications Management Unit (CMU) by year-end.
Combined with the latest FMS software, the UniLink update’s “push to load” capability allows information received from ATC via controller-pilot datalink communications (CPDLC) to be automatically uploaded into the FMS flight plan. It also permits automatic transition between satcom and VHF, reducing pilot workload.
UniLink SCN 31.3 includes latency monitoring required for use of FANS 1/A+/PBCS (oceanic/remote operations) and U.S. domestic (DCL, CPDLC, and en route); VDL Mode 2 multi-frequency; and ability to interface to an MCDU and support FANS CPDLC without an FMS.