Rockwell Collins' HGS-3500 compact HUD system in the avionics maker's Pro Line Fusion package: the HGS-3500. And expectations remain that others will soon achieve what Rockwell Collins certificated - heads-up displays and guidance systems to spread the benefits of this technology within Part 23 models thanks to flexibility and compact package in which the Pro Line Fusion package - and the HGS-3500 - occupy. As Fusion wins approval for retrofit in other aircraft - and as other avionics makers expand their options in heads-up guidance systems - the availability of HUD technology should only improve for the small aircraft flying under Part 23 type approvals. The safety benefits and situational-awareness benefits have long been recognized. But a variety of issues combine to keep HUD and HGS technologies stuck in the upper end of the aircraft fleet. Rockwell Collins, MyGoFlight, Elbit Systems and others continue to work on solutions that open the way to the technology to the prospect of hosting a heads-up display system to aircraft of almost any size. And Honeywell offers a HUD-like view of the world on the primary flight display of its Primus Apex series avionics packages, like the ones flying on late-model Pilatus PC-12NG propjet singles, Viking Aircraft's resurrected Twin Otter 400, and on China's upcoming YF-12. Honeywell's package offers the benefit of synthetic-vision system technology playing on the PFD in HUD mode. Conversely, Rockwell Collins HGS-3500 delivers the SVS and, if the aircraft is so equipped, EVS - enhanced vision system - images along with flight data ... all on the compact HUD display. And as you'll read here, compact is the elusive key sought by many avionics makers wanting to market a HUD or HGS package in smaller cockpits like those dominant in Part 23 aircraft. The genesis of a safety system: from combat gear to situational awareness tool Today's heads-up displays are the great-great grandchildren of technology introduced to fighter aircraft during World War I: the reflector sight. Introduced into Continued on following page avionics news * december 2016 17