Story ID: 090
Nextant Flies Fusion-equipped Challenger 604
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: The avionics retrofit is one of the components of Nextant's remanufactured 604XT.
Word Count: 196
Nextant Aerospace has flown a Challenger 604 outfitted with a Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion retrofit cockpit with touchscreen displays, the company announced last month. The avionics retrofit is one of the components of its remanufactured 604XT, which was announced in May at EBACE. However, Nextant is also offering the retrofit as a standalone product for Challenger 604 operators and early last month announced that Texas billionaire Toby Neugebauer is the launch customer for the 604XT.

At pres time the Fusion-equipped 604 had made two flights and will continue with flight-test protocols before the aircraft is flown to the NBAA Convention in Las Vegas for the first public showing of the new cockpit. The company also plans to announce more details about the 604XT program at the show.

“The cockpit performed flawlessly,” said Nextant vice president of flight operations Nathan Marker. “The Pro Line Fusion cockpit not only addresses pending regulatory and obsolescence requirements that the Challenger is facing, but also provides the flight crew with the absolute latest in forward-fit technology. The touch-interactive technology is intuitive and the overall integration provides exceptional situational awareness for the flight crew.”

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