Gregory Polek has spent his entire career in aviation journalism with AIN, starting as a proofreader and assistant to then-managing editor Mary Mahoney in 1995 after serving an internship with&nbsp;New Jersey Monthly&nbsp;magazine and completing his B.A. degree in English/Writing at New Jersey’s William Paterson College. By 1997 Polek accepted a position as an associate editor, covering the regional airline beat for&nbsp;Aviation International News&nbsp;in place of retiring industry veteran Don Anderson. The assignment took Polek across North America and Europe to profile regional airlines varying in size and mission from the likes of floatplane operators Kenmore Air and Chalk’s Ocean Airways to regional jet operators such as SkyWest and American Eagle. Today, in his dual role as Air Transport Editor and International Airshow Editor, Polek writes, edits, and manages AIN’s commercial aviation content while overseeing each of the company’s daily international air show publications in Paris, Farnborough, Singapore, and Dubai. Most recently Polek has assumed oversight of daily coverage of the Helicopter Association International’s annual Heli-Expo convention.

Senior Editor

Dassault Falcon 900, 900B, 900C, 900DX, 900EX, 900EX EASy, and 900LX

Gregory Polek

Bartlesville, Oklahoma-based Phoenix Rising Aviation and business aircraft sales and charter company Global Jet Partners have completed the first Universal Avionics InSight flight display system upgrade in a Falcon 900B. Phoenix Rising performed the replacement of the airplane’s Control Display System/Retrofit (CDS/R) while conducting major C-check maintenance. The InSight installation in a Falcon 900B follows the specifications of an STC acquired by Chicago Jet Group.
According to Phoenix Rising, the modification addresses the growing obsolescence and maintenance challenges faced by operators of cockpits with legacy avionics. InSight replaces outdated avionics with a fourth-generation integrated flight deck featuring four high-resolution displays and two touchscreen-enabled control displays. Along with offering improved reliability, the 3D synthetic vision system and associated digital map—combined with advanced safety features for traffic, weather, and terrain—“significantly” enhances situational awareness for safer operations, according to the company. The retrofit also increases the aircraft's useable payload by 150 pounds due to the removal of old excess wiring and obsolete and heavier, older avionics.
“We chose the cutting-edge Universal InSight avionics cockpit retrofit upgrade to bring this beautiful, older Falcon 900B up to the latest 21st-century standards and enhance its market and resale value,” said Global Jet Partners CEO Michael Long. “After a five-month, complete upgrade, this aircraft is actively for sale and represents a high-value, turn-key market proposition.”
The InSight Flight Display System integrates with existing aircraft systems and includes the latest Universal flight management systems (FMS) and UniLink data communications management, enabling FANS 1/A+, CPDLC, and ATN B1 capabilities. The system improves operational efficiency with CPDLC departure clearances, saving 15 minutes or more on a typical flight. Additionally, WAAS/LPV and RNP approaches down to 0.3 nm expand the range of airports where Falcon pilots can perform precision approaches.
“This one-of-a-kind jet is a compelling example of the transformative potential of the InSight system,” Phoenix Rising Aviation president Warren Peck said. “With InSight, Falcon 900B owners have a sustainable and cost-effective path to modernization, regardless of its original avionics configuration, ensuring that their aircraft remain competitive and valuable within the market.”

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

Phoenix Rising, Global Jet Partners Upgrade Falcon 900B with InSight System

Phoenix Rising replaced the airplane’s Control Display System/Retrofit (CDS/R) while conducting major C-check maintenance

Phoenix Rising Aviation and Global Jet Partners have completed the first Universal Avionics InSight flight display system upgrade in a Falcon 900B.

Phoenix Rising, Global Jet Partners Upgrade Falcon 900B with Universal InSight System

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

Results could inform development of Merlin's autonomous flight control system

Merlin and Quikjet Team on Pilot Fatigue Study

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 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.

Upgrade changes round dials to larger arc-type gauges

Garmin Adds Engine Indicating for TPE331-10 Turbines

Sarah Rose

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Company 'received overwhelming support from European operators'

Boost Systems Gets EASA Approval for Carrying Device

Chad Trautvetter

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Added features include CPDLC, ADS-B In weather, and enhanced connectivity

Collins Unveils Pro Line 21 Upgrade for Cessna CJs, XLS+

Failure to upgrade could cause service interruptions

Universal FMS GPS Rollover Date Coming Due May 31

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

New Garmin avionics and a Finoff Aviation engine upgrade modernize the Swiss  turboprop

Fargo Jet Completes PC-12 Avionics Modernization

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.

In this article

Falcon 900 Series

Universal Avionics

More In Avionics

Merlin and Quikjet Team on Pilot Fatigue Study

Results could inform development of Merlin's autonomous flight control system

Garmin Adds Engine Indicating for TPE331-10 Turbines

Upgrade changes round dials to larger arc-type gauges

Boost Systems Gets EASA Approval for Carrying Device

Company 'received overwhelming support from European operators'

Collins Unveils Pro Line 21 Upgrade for Cessna CJs, XLS+

Added features include CPDLC, ADS-B In weather, and enhanced connectivity

Universal FMS GPS Rollover Date Coming Due May 31

Failure to upgrade could cause service interruptions

Fargo Jet Completes PC-12 Avionics Modernization

New Garmin avionics and a Finoff Aviation engine upgrade modernize the Swiss turboprop

Mitigating the Effects of GNSS Jamming and Spoofing

Compromised navigation information is an ongoing problem

StandardAero To Begin StableLight Autopilot Installs

The autopilot is based on Thales' Compact Autopilot System for the Airbus H125

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