Xian Aircraft Company of China has selected Rockwell Collins' Pro Line 21 avionics system for integration into new MA-60 regional aircraft. Deliveries of the initial shipsets will begin later this year, with aircraft certification expected in 2004.

"The MA-60 avionics upgrade program continues Rockwell Collins' long-standing relationship with Xian Aircraft Company and the Chinese aircraft industry," said Denny Helgeson, vice president and general manager of Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins. "Because of increasing demands in domestic air traffic, we believe that the Xian Aircraft Company and the Chinese aircraft industry are poised for significant growth, and are pleased to be participating in what will surely be a successful new aircraft program."

The open-architecture, highly integrated Pro Line 21 system brings advanced avionics capabilities to the flight deck of the MA-60, meeting the standards of today's evolving civil aviation environment and providing a growth path for future requirements. MA-60 flight crews will benefit from enhanced situational awareness and intuitive display of information through the flight deck's 10 x 8-inch high-resolution liquid crystal adaptive flight displays. The primary flight and multifunction displays show all necessary flight information in easy-to-interpret formats.

The Pro Line 21 avionics package also includes: 

• The Collins FMS-3000 Flight Management System, offering operational flexibility and enhanced situational awareness through capabilities such as multiple waypoint vertical navigation; time/fuel planning and predictions; databased Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs), Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs) and approaches;
• The Pro Line 21 Communication, Navigation and Surveillance (CNS) radio sensors, which support the transition from voice to data communications. The new sensors are significantly smaller and lighter than existing sensors, conserving space for future avionics technology insertions. Operational upgrades will be implemented through software enhancements.
• The Collins AHS-3000 Attitude Heading Reference System, featuring a digital quartz sensor, significantly improving reliability while reducing volume, weight, power consumption and cost of ownership.
• The Collins TWR-800 solid-state weather radar, with optional turbulence detection, offering weather detection in a 300 nm range. The system provides enhanced situational awareness while reducing pilot workload.

FMI: www.rockwellcollins.com