Eclipse Aerospace selects Curtiss-Wright Controls aircraft computer system for Eclipse 550 aircraft program
CHARLOTTE, N.C., 17 Aug. 2013. Curtiss-Wright Controls Inc. won a contract from Eclipse Aerospace Inc. to supply the Aircraft Computer System (ACS) for the new Eclipse 550 aircraft.
Under the agreement, the Curtiss-Wright Controls Avionics & Electronics (CWC-AE) division will supply Eclipse with its ACS product. Curtiss-Wright’s ACS will infuse the aircraft with the ability to continuously monitor and control aircraft systems, such as flaps, landing gear, climate control, fuel management, autopilot, and flight envelope protection. In addition, the ACS will alert the pilot of abnormal system conditions, when necessary.
CWC-AE’s ACS will also host the Eclipse 550’s Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) units, which help to ensure that the engines are operating at peak performance and efficiency. Together, the ACS and FADEC units make up the Eclipse Avio Processing Center, the electronic heart of the aircraft. The Eclipse 550 features dual Eclipse Avio Processing Centers, each of which can control the aircraft and both engines independently, to ensure maximum reliability and operational safety.
Curtiss-Wright’s Aircraft Computer System (ACS) is designed to minimize downtime while reducing weight, interconnects, volume, logistics and maintenance costs. CWC-AE ACSs are versatile, reliable and highly responsive multifunctional Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) that combine many aircraft functions into one controller.
The CWC-AE division is manufacturing the products covered by this agreement at its City of Industry, CA facility. The products are being shipped to Eclipse Aerospace in Albuquerque, NM.
Unit shipments began in December 2012 and are expected to continue until 2016.
“The Aircraft Computer System, the flagship of our Avionics & Electronics group’s controller product line, showcases our capability to provide avionics subsystems that can control a wide variety of flight critical systems in a single Line Replaceable Unit,” says Tom Quinly, president of Curtiss-Wright Controls.
Courtney E. Howard | Chief Editor, Intelligent Aerospace
Courtney enjoys writing about all things high-tech in PennWell’s burgeoning Aerospace and Defense Group, which encompasses Intelligent Aerospace and Military & Aerospace Electronics. She’s also a self-proclaimed social-media maven, mil-aero nerd, and avid avionics and space geek. Connect with Courtney at [email protected], @coho on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on Google+.
