B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2 - (Page 72)

N B A A 2 0 07 Thales Boosts Its Business Aviation Role Thales, the French avionics and flight control systems supplier, is rapidly becoming more deeply involved with business aviation. Much of its technology from Airbus and defense programs, such as the A400M, is finding its way into corporate jets. Here at NBAA (Booth 4760), Thales is launching its liquid crystal display head-up technology HUD for business aviation, claiming it to be one of the most advanced available. Its technology comes directly from the Airbus A380 airliner and from the A400M. The U.S. launch customer is the Skybus airline on its single-aisle Airbus aircraft, and Thales is pursuing business jet applications, says Ed Senen, vp and general manager of Thales aerospace services worldwide in the Americas. The LCDHUD is being demonstrated here at NBAA, Senen pointed out. Thales is a main supplier of current generation HUDs to Bombardier for the Global Express and regional airliners, and hopes the new LCD version will find even broader acceptance. This year’s NBAA also marks Thales entry into the retrofit market for business aviation through a new dealer/installation center network across the U.S. “Thales has been focused on OEMs, but now we are really making a foray into the retrofit market, leveraging products that we think are very applicable and proven through the new dealer and installation network,” said Senan. This network—its participants will be announced soon—will also act as service centers for all of the Thales products on business jets, greatly expanding its footprint on this side of the Atlantic. Thales will launch its retrofit drive with three products: an integrated electronic standby instrument, its TopFlight SatCom system for the new Inmarsat Swift Broadband service and its KANNAD range of emergency locator transmitters. Thales is applying technology developed for the Airbus A400M military transport to business jets. “Thales has been focused on OEMs, but now we are really making a foray into the retrofit market, leveraging products that we think are very applicable and proven through the new dealer and installation network.” —Ed Senen, vp and general manager of Thales aerospace services worldwide in the Americas own mobile phone, and provides WiFi access for voice-over-IP or data applications. Thales claims it is the first Arinc 781 satcom system. “Compared to traditional Satcoms, it is a much smaller, lighter package than previous equipment. Another nice feature is that it is compatible with both existing Arinc 781 and Arinc 741 antennae,” said Senen. “Thales also has an agreement with Inmarsat to be a reseller of those services. So we can provide the equip- ment, the service agreement with Inmarsat, and we can also, based on our new retrofit strategy, offer installations and work through a series of modification centers that will be part of our network,” he added. The system will be available in about a year. TopFlight Satcom was certified on Airbus single aisle aircraft during the second quarter and will be STC’d on Boeing 737s by the end of the year. Standby Instrument The Thales integrated electronic standby instrument (IESI) combines speed, altitude and attitude. It is currently used by most air transport, regional and business jet manufacturers as standard equipment, and is now available for retrofit. ELTs Some 550 aircraft in the U.S. have been signed up so far for Thales KANNAD range of emergency locator transmitters designed to comply with new ICAO rules that come into effect in July 2008. The product is a joint effort with Martec, a well-known manufacturer of tracking and emergency devices. “We offer both built-in and portable models,” said Senen. “Most of our market so far has been with air carriers, but the weight and size of these ELTs make them very attractive for business aircraft, too.” Price is around $5,000. —John Morris SatCom To p F l i g h t S a t C o m f o r t h e Inmarsat Swift Broadband service brings the potential to use one’s 72 Thales supplies head-up displays for Global Express jets. September 26, 2007 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2

Contents Spectrum Stresses Freedom Adam Shows A700 Cabin User Fee War of Words Execujet Boosts Services Saab's Got Your Back CAE Covers the Field London Airports Roundup Pratt & Whitney Canada Another Show! A More Digital Jeppesen CMC Rides Bizjet Wave Thales Weighs In We Fly the Eclipse 500

B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 Day 2

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