Rockwell Collins integrated flight deck selected for forward-fit and retrofit turboprop aircraft cockpit upgrades

Rockwell Collins' Pro Line Fusion integrated flight deck is certified by the FAA and EASA for installation in forward-fit and retrofit turboprop aircraft, including Beechcraft's line of King Air general aviation platforms. Many turboprop owners and operators are employing Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to install new Pro Line Fusion avionics in existing aircraft, both as a glass cockpit upgrade and to meet the latest regulations and requirements, such as for ADS-B avionics hardware and software.

Rockwell Collins has received a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certificate (STC) for its Pro Line Fusionavionics upgrade for King Air 350 turboprops originally delivered with Pro Line II avionics. The STC was achieved as part of a collaborative effort with Landmark Aviation Winston-Salem and BHE & Associates, Ltd., and is available now through Rockwell Collins-authorized dealers.

EASA officials also have certified the company’s Pro Line Fusion integrated flight deck for more than 250 turboprop aircraft, including Beechcraft King Air twin-turboprop general aviation platforms (forward-fit and retrofit applications).

Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion upgrade for King Air 350 turboprops provides turnkey compliance with airspace modernization deadlines (ADS-B regulations, etc.) and transforms the flying experience with the largest widescreen primary flight displays available. The cockpit upgrade enhances the aircraft’s value with the same icon-based, touchscreen technology found on new-production King Air aircraft.

“This upgrade immediately readies the aircraft for the future with simple airspace mandate compliance and essential capabilities for NextGen flying,” says Craig Olson, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins. “In addition, it provides a compelling flight deck that is easy and enjoyable for pilots to operate, and it helps them maintain awareness like never before.”

Rockwell Collins’ Pro Line Fusion ushers in a new era for King Air 350 owners with:

• A fully loaded package of baseline equipment for operation in modernizing global airspace: ADS-B mandate compliance, SBAS-capable GNSS, localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches, radius-to-fix (RF) legs and more
• Three 14.1-inch widescreen LCDs with advanced graphics, configurable windows, and touchscreen interfaces—matching the display configuration of the latest King Air models delivered from the factory
• Market-leading high-resolution synthetic vision as a standard feature, including Rockwell Collins’ patented airport dome, and extended runway centerlines with mile markers to better orient the pilot from top of descent through final approach
• Touch-interactive maps with eyes-forward flight planning, high-resolution topography, real-time onboard weather radar overlays, obstacles, and special-use airspace and search patterns for expanded situational awareness and reduced workload
• Geo-referenced electronic navigation charts that display own-ship aircraft position for enhanced situational awareness during approaches
• Easy and fast database updates using a standard USB drive port on the front of the displays.

“We’re excited to now offer this extraordinary upgrade for legacy King Air 350 flight decks,” says Skip Madsen, vice president, MRO, Landmark Aviation. “Having completed the certification work with Rockwell Collins, we know this upgrade inside and out, and look forward to working with customers to make this new modern flight deck a reality for them.”

“Pro Line Fusion for the King Air is a true joy to operate and it really does cut down on my workload, especially on those must-have business trips into busy airports or during marginal weather conditions,” explains Loy Allen Jr., former Nascar driver and owner/operator of the first King Air 350 with Pro Line II to receive the Pro Line Fusion upgrade.

Pro Line Fusion for your King Air brings:

> Three interchangeable, 14-inch touch-screen flight displays to maximize availability of the information you count on

> Synthetic Vision System, featuring Rockwell Collins’ patented airport dome that better orients the pilot destination airport from the top of the descent

> Touch-interactive graphical maps with high-resolution terrain, weather overlays, obstacles and geopolitical boundaries > Reduced workload through elimination of CAS light panel and small displays in the pedestal

> Built-in, geo-referenced electronic navigation charts that display “own-ship” aircraft position for enhanced situational awareness during approaches, and automatically transition to the airport diagram after landing to make surface navigation easier

> Fully featured flight management system that positions operators for airspace modernization with localizer performance with vertical navigation (LPV) approach capability and radius-tofix (RF) legs

> Pilot-configurable primary and multifunction display windows that can show any system information, including enhanced vision or security cameras

> Touch-screen toolbar that adapts to each display window, providing shortcuts to the most commonly performed tasks

Intelligent Aerospace
Global Aerospace Technology NetworkIntelligent Aerospace, the global aerospace technology network, reports on the latest tools, technologies, and trends of vital importance to aerospace professionals involved in air traffic control, airport operations, satellites and space, and commercial and military avionics on fixed-wing, rotor-wing, and unmanned aircraft throughout the world.