Tue, Jul 28, 2009
Safety Feature For GA, Business Aircraft
By Gene Yarbrough
Forward Vision Monday unveiled their EVS-600 enhanced vision
system. The EVS-600 combines the long-wave infra-red capabilities
of the EVS-100 system with visible light, overlaying the two
outputs on top of one another. That gives pilots the ability to see
visible light sources juxtaposed with the otherwise invisible
infra-red images. The two combined images allow the pilot to
reference such things as taxi lights, particularly the newer
generation of LED taxi lights that infra-red only systems were
unable to detect. This ability to see objects via visible light and
IR is crucial information for pilots in low visibility conditions
according to Patrick Farrell, CEO of Forward Vision.
Farrell pointed out that the public needs more education about
the benefits of the product, saying that some of the potential
consumers don’t really understand how it works until they
actually fly an aircraft equipped with the system. He said static
displays of the product are not giving enough information to the
public to convince them of its value. As a way to draw attention to
the product, the company has donated a Forward Vision system to
this years AOPA sweepstakes aircraft, a Cirrus SR22 G3.
Farrell described the roots of the company as beginning in the
experimental market, initially targeting kit and homebuilders. The
company has expanded its marketing to include OEM’s such as
Cirrus, Cessna, and American Champion Aircraft. Currently the
company has STC approval for the Cirrus SR20 and SR22 as well as
158 models of the Cessna line. Farrell said that aggressive STC
certification efforts for other models are ongoing. Farrell also
said that Forward Vision is currently partnering with Atlantic Aero
of Greensboro, NC utilizing their DAS services and engineering
staff to meet design and certification requirements. Additional
announcements are expected for other OEM’s within the next
few weeks.
Some unique applications of the EVS systems include firefighting
water bombing. The EVS system “sees” thru smoke as if
it weren’t there. Farrell said an unexpected use comes out of
Africa where the system is used on aircraft performing night time
spraying operations for insect control.
Pricing for the EVS-100 system begins at $14,995 not including
installation cost or monitor. The EVS-600 system begins at
$17,995.
When asked about the ability for the system to interface with
“glass panel systems” Farrell indicated that the system
can be integrated with the AVIDYNE Integra R9. It is not compatible
with GARMIN PFD’s but is adaptable to GARMIN MFD’s and
IFD’s.
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