Story ID: 462
King Aerospace Retrofitting BBJ with Collins EFVS
By: Matt Thurber
Caption: BBJ operators will be able to add EFVS under a new STC from Collins Aerospace.
Word Count: 242
King Aerospace Commercial (Booth N3212) and Collins Aerospace are nearing completion of a supplemental type certificate (STC) to install enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) capability in Boeing Business Jets. The STC is being developed by Collins, using its EVS-3600 multispectral sensor, and King Aerospace will install the system in customer BBJs. The Dallas, Texas-based company recently completed the first installation with an unnamed launch customer.

The EVS-3600 displays enhanced-vision imagery on the BBJ’s head-up display. The uncooled multispectral sensors in the EVS-3600 include short- and long-wave infrared as well as visible cameras, “for the earliest possible detection of visual references,” according to Collins (Booth C10808). For BBJ operators, the benefits are the ability to take off with lower minimums and also fly instrument approaches below the normal decision altitude/height, increasing the capability to complete missions in poor weather.

Following customer flight testing of the installation in April, engineers are incorporating upgrades or changes and finishing the final design of the modification, which will be followed by additional flight testing.

“Achieving an STC from the FAA for an EFVS retrofit requires extensive certification flight testing,” says Jarid King, president of King Aerospace Companies. “It’s been a fascinating and rewarding process as we know there are a number of BBJ operators eager to deploy this system on their aircraft.”
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