Rockwell Collins electronic engine control unit for Rotax 912 iS aircraft engine brings propulsion efficiency to light aircraft

GUNSKIRCHEN, Austria, 19 March 2012. The new Rockwell Collins electronic dual-channel Engine Control Unit (ECU) is featured on BRP’s Rotax 912 iS piston engine for light sport aircraft (LSA). Rockwell Collins’ ECU is the first to meet aerospace design assurancestandards for certification in the LSA market.

The ECU was announced during a launch event at the BRP-Powertrain factory in Gunskirchen, Austria, an affiliate of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). The Rockwell Collins ECU is an automatic, redundant, proven engine control system that reduces pilot workload and delivers optimized engine performance. The ECU automates manual tasks such as adjusting air/fuel mixture and controlling exhaust gas temperatures.

The ECU enhances flight safety by monitoring engine and control system health, and detecting and mitigating potential faults and failures. Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the Rotax 912 iS piston engine is expected later this year.

“We chose to work with Rockwell Collins for the development of the ECU of the Rotax 912 iS engine because of their expertise and the fact that they are one of the very few FAA-certified production and design organizations for ECU development,” explains François Tremblay, director of the aircraft engine business at BRP.

“This revolutionary technology brings a new era of propulsion efficiency and safety to light sport aircraft and general aviation,” says Dr. David Vos, senior director, Control Technologies for Rockwell Collins. “Now operators can operate the engine with ease, without having to worry about completing manual tasks to optimize performance throughout all operating conditions.”