Avionics News March 2012 - 41

ment MFD market in 1997, with the certification of its original flight situation display, followed by the FlightMax series of MFDs, and now the versatile EX600 MFD, which supports 20 different radars and a whole host of sensor interfaces. Avidyne’s Entegra line revolutionized flying in 2003 as the first integrated flight deck for light GA. In 2005, Schwinn and fellow aviation visionary Paul Ryan united in the merger of Avidyne and Ryan International. Ryan, a 40-year industry veteran who founded Ryan International in 1981, is worldrenowned as the inventor of the Stormscope weather system, as well as a complete line of collision avoidance systems. Today, Avidyne’s products include the Entegra Release 9 integrated flight deck, safety-enhancing DFC90/100 digital autopilots, datalink-capable EX600 multifunction displays and a full line of safety sensors, including the ADS-Bupgradeable TAS600 Series Traffic Advisory System, the MLB700 Broadcast MLX770 datalink systems and the TWX670 Tactical Lightning system. In 2010, Avidyne certified its DFC90 and DFC100 digital autopilots with industry-leading features, such as envelope protection and straight-and-level capability, dramatically enhancing safety. Avidyne has announced a full line of panel-mounted, plug-and-play avionics that will be available in 2012, including the touchscreen IFD540 nav/comm/GPS, the AMX240 Audio Panel, and the AXP340 Mode S Transponder with ADS-B. An active AEA member, Avidyne exhibits at every AEA convention and regional meeting, as well as hosts technical seminars at each venue.

Cobham/S-TEC
Cobham PLC’s autopilot unit, formerly known as S-TEC Corp., was originally founded in 1978 in Mineral Wells, Texas. From modest beginnings, the company grew to design, certify and manufacture the industry’s largest selection of analog and digital autopilots for general aviation – ranging from small, single-engine to light-commuter aircraft.

Flight Display Systems
Flight Display Systems was founded in 1999, in Alpharetta, Ga., by David Gray. Gray has worked in sales and marketing with several general aviation avionics companies since leaving the U.S. Air Force in 1983. In the Air Force, he was an instructor navigator and field-service maintenance officer. He is an active instrumentrated pilot and is the R&D inspiration for the company. When Flight Display Systems was founded, joining the AEA was natural. “The AEA keeps us informed with industry trends and regulatory issues,” Gray said. “The

The business unit has maintained and expanded its Mineral Wells facility over the years and has achieved many noteworthy milestones, including: • Obtained STCs on nearly 1,000 aircraft models. • Installations on more than 35,000 aircraft worldwide. • OEM position with Pilatus, Piper, Quest and Vulcanair. • Authorization by the FAA as an Organization Designation Authorization entity for STC projects. In 2011, drawing upon its fixed-wing autopilot heritage, the business unit successfully obtained the first STCs for HeliSAS, the lightest, most affordable autopilot and stability augmentation system for light and medium helicopters. Today, more than 100 employees work at Cobham’s Mineral Wells location. The operation is comprised of a 57,000-squarefoot administration, engineering and manufacturing facility and a 28,000-square-foot hangar for installation, maintenance and product development projects.

meetings are a great way for us to interact with a lot of our dealers. We love reading Avionics News magazine and use it to promote our new products.” Today, Flight Display Systems creates electronic equipment for aircraft in three main areas: inflight entertainment equipment, cabin management systems and military and special mission products. The company has more than 55 employees on its team, manufacturing more than 200 products, and continues to grow at an average annual rate of 46 percent. Providing creative solutions for integration of consumer electronics into the aircraft environment is an ongoing challenge. When faced with a customer request, Flight
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Avionics News March 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News March 2012