Thu, Apr 01, 2010
Three-Panel Installs Will Now Feature Classic Games For Long
X-C Flights
ANN April 1st Special Edition: Aspen Avionics
announced Thursday that it has struck a deal with classic video
game maker Atari, as well as Microsoft, to allow video games and
flight sims be uploaded into their three-panel EFD1000MFD
installations. The company says allowing pilots to play video
games during long cross country flights on autopilot will keep
their minds sharp and focused when the cockpit work load drops to
near zero.
The EFD1000VG MFD comes pre-loaded with some classic games like
Asteroids, Space Invaders, and Galaga ... games pilots are prone to
enjoy. "We did a lot of market research, and knowing that many
pilots are middle aged guys, we selected some games that we knew
they played in arcades as kids," said John Uczekaj, Aspen President
and CEO. "The graphics are upgraded from the 80's originals, but
still low-res enough that they don't take up a lot of processing
power to play," he said.
Pilots who want to actually continue to fly an airplane while
they're on autopilot can upgrade the system to include the
Microsoft Flight Simulator, allowing them to fly just about
anything they want on their existing flight plan, or go somewhere
more interesting. "Let's say the system is installed in an LSA,"
Uczekaj said. "With the EFD1000VG, that pilot can fly an F-16 or a
Sopwith Camel to Boise, instead of the airplane he or she is in and
possibly bored with. Or, they can fly a Lear to Las Vegas while the
autopilot takes their Skycatcher to Sheboygan."
The EFD1000VG is available only in the three panel
configuration, allowing for proper redundancy for the safe
operation of the aircraft. The option comes with separate video
game controllers, so that the pilot does not have to touch the
actual flight controls to play the games. "This is going to
revolutionize the digital cockpit," said Uczekaj. "Never again will
a pilot have to sit through hours of a boring trip with very little
to do. And for families ... imagine letting your kids fly a 747
while you're shooting an approach to minimums."
Aspen says it has received thousands of inquiries about the
EFD1000VG, and expect to begin shipping the units mid-summer.
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