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Thomas Global Systems has announced at the Regional Aviation Association of Australia (RAAA) National Convention that its TFD-8601 AMLCD cockpit display has received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certificate (STC) for installation in Dassault Falcon 50 aircraft.
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The TFD-8601 cockpit display, which was developed in partnership with Regional Express (Rex) is a pioneering plug-and-play, active-matrix liquid-crystal display (AMLCD) replacement for ageing cathode ray tube (CRT) displays installed in a variety of regional, business and military aircraft. A shipset of four displays saves over 12 pounds per cockpit and requires 70 per cent less power than ageing CRTs during normal operation.
"This plug-and-play display upgrade immediately readies the aircraft for the future – a practical solution to CRT obsolescence with a built-in growth path for additional functionality to ensure capability and compliance," said Robert Riede, director, Commercial for Thomas Global.
"In addition, there are tremendous operational benefits gained when updating flight decks with TFD-8601 displays – including improved reliability and reduced costs, with lower weight, less heat and reduced power consumption."
The TFD-8601 installation can be completed quickly according to Thomas Global, with no changes to existing cockpit panels or wiring, and no crew retraining or changes to flight simulators – minimising disruption to aircraft operations. The display, incorporating Thomas Global’s Adaptive Display Architecture display processing technology, is already certified on a range of regional and business aircraft including Saab 340B and Embraer EMB 120.
Thomas Global last month secured the supply of cathode ray tubes (CRTs) for use in avionic cockpit display units. The company said the new agreement will allow them continue to provide in-country developed support capability for their export business in commercial and military aircraft markets.
A Thomas Global spokesperson confirmed to Defence Connect the bulk of this work will be done in Australia, and some in the US.
David Barnes, COO of Thomas Global, said the new arrangement will allow the company to continue to support some of the world's largest aerospace primes.
"Thomas Global is pleased to have secured one of the industry's largest orders of new avionic CRTs, meaning that we can offer operators continued, best-in-class support across a range of Honeywell, Thales, Rockwell Collins and GE CRT-based cockpit displays for years to come," said Barnes.
"As industry attention turns to newer technologies, we aim to provide an efficient end-of-life for these critical displays."
Thomas Global has previously worked on defence projects, including the Army’s Australian Light Armoured Vehicle (ASLAV). Thomas Global and Thales Australia partnered to deliver nine upgraded Crew Procedural Trainer (CPT) turrets for the vehicles. ASLAV CPT is a simulator that enables the crew commander and gunner to practice gunnery skills without the need to use live ammunition.
The company is also one of the nine contractors for the C4I Integral Computing System (ICS) used in Australia's Protected Mobility Vehicle-Light (PMV-L), Hawkei.
