Chelton acquires Sierra Flight Systems

Chelton Avionics, a subsidiary of Cobham plc, has bought Sierra Flight Systems, the world's only manufacturer of synthetic vision flight displayse.

EFIS (electronic flight instrumentation systems) have been available in corporate and transport category aircraft for years, but until now they have consisted of computer displays that merely mimic traditional mechanical instruments. The Sierra synthetic vision EFIS, by contrast, uses military-style HUD (head-up display) symbology overlaying a real-time computer-generated view of the outside world, similar to a virtual reality display.

This picture on the screen forms a primary flight display (PFD) that provides the pilot with a scene ahead of the aircraft. The forward-looking PFD features three-dimensional terrain, towers, antennas, obstructions, other air traffic, and the complete airport runway environment all displayed in the correct scale and perspective for the aircraft's current position and altitude.

When visibility is obscured by clouds, raun, snow, or darkness, this synthetic vision provides the pilot with situational awareness that has never been available before. All navigation symbology is also shown in 3-D as a " tunnel" or "highway-in-the-sky" including departure, enroute, approach, and missed approach procedures. The system's navigation display shows colour-coded airspace and terrain, projected turn path, Jeppesen NayData, graphical wind vector, towers and obstructions, and can display weather and traffic data from a variety of sources.

A typical system includes a PFD and a multi-function display (MFD); up to two additional MFD's can also be installed for a total of four screens. Remote sensors include a solid-state inertial attitude indicator, an airdata computer, and a GPS receiver. Also included are an integrated voice warning system, a flight data logger, and a fuel totalizer. The system will interface with autopilots and remote receivers for traffic, weather, and VORILOC/GS/MB through ARINC-429 and RS-232 protocols. A complete system weighs under 13 lbs. and the display screens are only three inches deep.

"The Sierra EFIS will form the cornerstone for a complete line of general aviation avionics products from Chelton," says Charlie Stuff, President of Chelton Avionics and now CEO of Sierra Flight Systems. "Sierra has a revolutionary product and is now part of an aerospace company that dates back to 1934. This combination of innovation and stability forms the framework for a powerful new offering in the general aviation avionics market."

"We are extremely excited to be a Chelton company," says Gordon Pratt, President and one of the three founders of Sierra Flight Systems. "With our innovative synthetic vision EFIS and the resources and reputation of Chelton, we are now poised to revolutionise the general aviation cockpit. Our system is more capable than those currently available in airliners but is priced for high-end singles through light jets."

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