Owners and operators of the Learjet 55C have a new flight management system (FMS) option, the installation of dual Avidyne Atlas units that allow pilots to fly fully-coupled LPV approaches. Florida Jet Center (Booth 3726) worked with Avidyne (Booth 1681) on the project, which required reconfiguration of the center pedestal to accommodate the EFIS mode select controls and the Dzus-mounted Atlas FMSs.
The modern Atlas units add many capabilities in addition to LPV, LP, LNAV/VNAV, and LNAV-only approaches, including synthetic vision display and a moving map. Built-in Bluetooth connectivity allows for the transfer of information between the Atlas FMSs and iPads running ForeFlight Mobile and Avidyne’s IFD100 app. Other features of Atlas include flight planning, radar and video display, fuel flow information, ADS-B In (weather and traffic), and other pilot-configurable options.
Even in aircraft with legacy EFIS avionics such as the Learjet 55C, Avidyne’s GPS Legacy Avionics Support connects navigation information through the VOR localizer channel, making it possible for active flight plans to conclude with a GPS (RNAV) approach.
The Atlas FMSs are equipped with QWERTY keyboards and touchscreen displays and meet TSO C146c. The price for the dual Atlas system for the Learjet 55C is $90,880.
“Atlas gives new life to these highly capable airframes without the high cost of a full flight deck replacement,” said John Talmadge, Avidyne v-p of worldwide sales, “and giving operators a whole host of new capabilities—and most importantly opening up hundreds of airports and runway ends with GPS-based LPV approaches.”