Aviation aircraft electronics are becoming increasingly digital and connected with smaller modular form factors. According to Inkwood Research, the global aircraft cockpit display system market is expected to project a CAGR of 6.47% during 2023-2032 and reach a revenue collection of $2179.82 million by 2032.
The global aircraft cockpit digital display market growth is driven by cutting-edge integrations and innovations that are redefining the aviation landscape. For instance, aerospace companies are integrating synthetic vision systems (SVS) with digital displays to provide pilots with real-time, three-dimensional terrain models. These systems offer enhanced situational awareness, especially during low-visibility conditions, thereby minimizing the risk of controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) accidents.
This blog offers a concise overview of the prominent integrations and innovations in aircraft cockpit digital displays.
Thommen Aircraft’s CRT-to-LCD Display Upgrades
On March 28th, 2022, Thommen Aircraft Equipment Ltd announced the entry of its display replacement services and upgrades for first-generation LCD and CRT (cathode-ray tube) displays in legacy aircraft. The upgradation encompasses converting and processing analog information to color and composite video signals in a digital format for precise flight navigation.
Says Pete Ring, Senior Sales Executive for North America, “Thommen has solutions available today to update and modernize most aging legacy CRT and older LCD displays, breathing new life into these venerable systems and airframes at a fraction of the cost of a brand-new full panel upgrade.” (Source)
Honeywell’s Primus Epic 2.0
Honeywell’s Primus Epic 2.0 integrated avionics equips pilots with advanced navigation tools, safety systems, efficient workload management, and improved situational awareness. It is a sophisticated combination of capabilities, features, and technologies, facilitating a comprehensive flight experience for the pilot. Also, it supports Honeywell’s Interactive Navigation and SmartView Synthetic system to improve navigational performance and safety by identifying difficult terrains for effective redirection of flight paths.
Some of the Primus Epic 2.0’s features include:
- Mandate and Information Ready: Primus Epic 2.0 encompasses advanced communication systems, offering an easy path to the mandated Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out system. In addition, it supports Cockpit Display of Traffic Information, which merges a map view with location information about other aircraft in the vicinity, whether on the ground or in the air.
- Four 12-inch Color LCD Displays: The integrated cockpit system entails two multifunction displays and two user-friendly primary flight displays that reduce pilot workload. Also, these provide scalable aircraft system details, maps, charts, and window views, facilitating effortless glancing across controls.
As per Jeff Merdich, vice president, Cockpit Systems, Honeywell Aerospace, “The Primus Epic 2.0 integrated cockpit system not only lets pilots fly in any airspace, weather or approach, it also delivers the latest in situational awareness, communication, engine and flight planning technologies compared with other cockpit offerings.” (Source)
- Astronautics Corporation’s Badger Pro+ Integrated Primary Flight Display System
Badger Pro+ is the latest generation of Astronautics’ Badger family of flight displays with demonstrated reliability of more than 1,000,000 flight hours in difficult environments. It has 6×8-inch, high-resolution primary flight displays. These displays project engine & navigation data, checklist information, balance & weight, and system synoptics. It also offers night vision compatibility and displays high-definition video from multiple inputs. Moreover, it incorporates information from across all the systems on the aircraft to enable an operationally-advanced pilot interface.
- Garmin G5000’s EASA approval for Cessna Citation Excel and Citation XLS Aircraft
On October 11th, 2022, Garmin International Inc announced the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)’s approval of the G5000® flight deck for the Cessna Citation Excel and Citation XLS aircraft. The G5000 integrated avionics suite raises the flight crew’s situational awareness, considerably minimizes operational costs, and modernizes the cockpit with additional capabilities, facilitating an exceptional experience for European operators and owners.
Further, the G5000 integrated flight deck for the Citation Excel/XLS entails three landscape-oriented flight displays with split-screen capability, enabling simultaneous viewing of weather, flight plan information, TCAS, TAWS, checklists, charts, and maps for pilots. Also, Garmin SafeTaxi® airport diagrams and electronic charts are geo-referenced and can be viewed across all three displays.
This upgradation also features:
- Datalink weather, including access to text/voice communication and global weather products through the Iridium satellite network
- FANS-1/A+ and ACARS support
- Advanced Doppler weather radar capabilities, including turbulence detection and ground clutter suppression
- SurfaceWatch™
- Synthetic vision technology (SVT™)
Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing, says, “Since the program certification three years ago, well over 100 Excel and XLS aircraft have committed to upgrading with G5000, including aircraft from charter and fractional provider flyExclusive. We are gratified with the success thus far and look forward to continuing along that steady growth path following the EASA certification.” (Source)
Accordingly, the consistent advancements and integrations in the global aircraft cockpit digital display market are elevating cockpit displays’ capacities to meet modern aviation’s demands.
By Akhil Nair
FAQs:
How do cockpit digital displays contribute to enhanced pilot situational awareness?
Cockpit digital displays significantly enhance pilot situational awareness by presenting critical flight data in real time. These displays integrate synthetic vision systems, showing terrain and obstacles even in poor visibility conditions.
What benefits do airlines and operators gain from adopting advanced cockpit digital displays?
Airlines and operators benefit from adopting advanced cockpit digital displays in several ways. These include reduced pilot workload, improved fuel efficiency through better data presentation, enhanced operational efficiency due to streamlined information access, and the ability to comply with modern air traffic management requirements.