Avionics
As VLJ designs mature, makers hone cockpit ideas
The new breed of very light jets (VLJs) now under development could turn out to be the biggest catalyst for business aviation growth since Bill Lear’s halc

The new breed of very light jets (VLJs) now under development could turn out to be the biggest catalyst for business aviation growth since Bill Lear’s halcyon days in Wichita. But with cost, reliability and ease of use foremost in the minds of VLJ developers, the digital cockpit systems in these pintsize business jets of tomorrow will be unlike anything most pilots have seen.

While the possibilities are tantalizing, the marriage of advanced avionics technology with high-performance airplanes does present some serious potential pitfalls.