Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

Operators flying aircraft equipped with Universal Avionics flight management systems will soon be able to enjoy improved flight efficiency thanks to Universal’s new FlexPerf Trip Performance module. The module will be available for Universal Waas/Sbas FMSs (and also Waas/Sbas-capable military Multi-Mission Management Systems). FlexPerf will be available with the next major software release in the first quarter of 2013. 
What FlexPerf Trip Performance does is constantly analyze actual fuel burn and use that information to provide fuel savings predictions and speed recommendations for best economy in climb, cruise and descent phases of flight. FlexPerf, according to Universal Avionics “features a ‘flexible’ intelligent design that uses actual ‘realized’ fuel burn to apply improvements to the baseline aircraft performance database.” FlexPerf takes into account subtle changes such as worn paint or engine health. The module helps pilots fly more efficiently by displaying “best performance speed limitations for each waypoint” on a flight plan. “The FMS will learn and then adjust the performance calculations based on aircraft performance reality over subsequent flights, not just locked into the original factory settings that are used for the baseline database.” 
Universal Waas/Sbas systems are certified in more than 50 aircraft types and installed on 2,500 aircraft. 
The company also announced that it has recently completed flight testing for its new attitude heading reference system (AHRS), the AHS-525. Employing solid-state micro-electromechanical technology, the AHS-525 is designed to support NextGen flight decks. The unit can also replace heavy and fragile spinning gyroscopes and will cost less, weigh more and last longer than traditional vertical and directional gyros. Certification and first shipments of the AHS-525 are expected in February 2013.
Universal Avionics is also highlighting its UniLink UL-800/801 Communications Management Unit at its NBAA booth (No. 2500). The UniLink UL-800/801 satisfies the Feb. 5, 2015 Link 2000+ mandate for single European sky datalink services, which will apply to aircraft operating above FL295. Software needed to meet the mandate should be certified in 2014, the company said. The Unilink unit supports VHF datalink Mode 2 and controller pilot datalink communication needed for future air navigation system operations, which are upcoming in European, oceanic and even U.S. airspace.
Separately Universal announced its top 2012 national and international dealers, Duncan Aviation and Scandinavian Avionics, respectively. Scandinavian Avionics was recognized for its skill and experience installing Universal’s EFI-890R retrofit displays, especially in the LET-410. Duncan has aggressively marketed upgrades featuring Universal Waas/Sbas FMSs and EFI-890R displays.

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

FlexPerf Coming Soon to Universal FMSs

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Amy Wilder

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Jet Access brings full-service approach to upgrade

Jet Access Completes Third Excel G5000 Retrofit

Jessica Reed

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Move facilitates integrationinto AW139 fleets operating across Asia-Pacific

PAG To Distribute Honeywell RDR-7000 Radar in Asia

Charles Alcock

News, issues, personnel, equipment and developments about air traffic management.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Ailumina Vista visual traffic detection system could first be used on helicopters 

AI and Sensors Set to Boost Aircraft Situational Awareness 

Matt Thurber

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Pilots report improved situational awareness with in-cockpit traffic display

Acron Aviation Demos SafeRoute+ ADS-B In Solutions

Kerry Lynch

Range of updates offered

Garmin Expands Navigation Database to South Pacific

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

NBAA Convention News 2012

More In Avionics

Jet Access Completes Third Excel G5000 Retrofit

Jet Access brings full-service approach to upgrade

PAG To Distribute Honeywell RDR-7000 Radar in Asia

Move facilitates integrationinto AW139 fleets operating across Asia-Pacific

AI and Sensors Set to Boost Aircraft Situational Awareness

Ailumina Vista visual traffic detection system could first be used on helicopters

Acron Aviation Demos SafeRoute+ ADS-B In Solutions

Pilots report improved situational awareness with in-cockpit traffic display

Garmin Expands Navigation Database to South Pacific

Range of updates offered

Joint Effort To Field Iridium-based GNSS-Denied Solution

System takes advantage of low-earth-orbit satellites’ stronger signals

FAA Certifies Universal Avionics Wi-Fi-enabled FMS Tech

Connected flight management system incorporates comprehensive security measures

FreeFlight and Collins Team Up on ADS-B Integration

STCs include Textron and Hawker aircraft

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN