The King Is Back

Honeywell’s Bendix/King division on Sunday unveiled two new glass-panel avionics — the KSN 770 MFD/GPS WAAS/navcom unit and KFD 840 primary flight display — in an attempt to leapfrog competitors. The KSN 770 borrows its easy-to-use graphical interface, which is called INAV GA, from Honeywell’s higher-end integrated avionics systems for business aircraft. Not lacking any features, the 5.7-inch-diagonal LCD unit will be localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) and WAAS capable and will display a range of safety systems, including onboard weather radar, terrain awareness and warning system, datalink weather, traffic, charts and maps. It features multiple control inputs, such as traditional hard keys, line-select keys, display-based dedicated keys and a cursor control device. Bendix/King plans to certify the KSN 770 in late 2008; pricing has not been set, but “will be competitively priced” with similar WAAS receivers. “We believe the KSN 770 is revolutionary in that it pushes the boundary of performance for retrofit avionics,” said Dan Barks, business director of GA operators and dealers. “This unit is a significant step forward in performance and ease of use over existing multifunctional WAAS displays. Pilots will see that this unit has some of the same look and feel as other Honeywell avionics on larger aircraft.”

To keep the price of the KFD 840 under $20,000, Bendix/King is working with Crossbow Technology to develop a PFD for piston aircraft that interfaces with existing navigation systems and autopilots and offers pilots checklists and weight and balance calculations. According to Bendix/King, the KFD 840 will have a built in solid-state air data Computer and attitude heading reference system, altitude and airspeed bugs and a slaved horizontal situation indicator. The 8.4-inch LCD box will interface with common general aviation navigation systems, in addition to existing KAP-140 and KFC-150/200/225 autopilots. “We see significant interest in the retrofit market for ‘glass cockpit’ technology that makes flying easier and safer such as solid state sensors and a wide horizon. For many aircraft this will allow a pilot to add a second attitude, airspeed and altitude source, improving safety,” Barks said. The KFD 840 will be available for delivery in the second half of 2008.