B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 - September 27, 2007 - (Page 22)

N B A A 2 0 07 Mercury Combines Flir with Synthetic Vision It’s not every Class 2 electronic flight bag that comes equipped with built-in 3D synthetic vision with highway-in-the-sky guidance. But now Mercury Computer Systems of Chelmsford, Mass. (Booth 5123), is adding flir camera viewing capability to its Class 2 EFBs that can already run its synthetic vision software. The move by the image and signal processing company is one of many signs at this NBAA that flir and synthetic vision are about to sweep the business aviation market. Pioneering synthetic vision and flir systems are already flying on some aircraft and more products are on the way from Honeywell, Rockwell Collins, Kollsman, L-3 Communications, Max Viz and others. The Mercury CIS-2000 and CIS-2200 cockpit information systems are Class 2 EFBs that already support the VistaNav Synthetic Vision System software. The EFBs also provide pilots with chart viewing, flight planning, performance data, and now flir views for landing at night or during inclement weather. And GPS-enabled airport diagrams help pilots navigate all the way to a parking spot. The CIS-2000 and CIS-2200 also provide an independent attitude system with battery backup. The EFBs are equipped with built-in attitude reference systems with GPS and Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capability. The two EFBs are now qualified to display imagery with Kollsman’s new enhanced vision sensors, including the uncooled GAViS (an inexpensive flir camera designed for light aircraft) and the cooled EVS II flir system for business jets. The system has been designed to be compatible with flir imagery from cameras made by other manufacturers as well. Mercury Computer makes synthetic vision part of an electronic flight bag, or EFB. Bombardier Skyjet Celebrates 10th Year Bombardier Skyjet is celebrating its 10th anniversary here, but more than that, the “pioneer service for online booking of privately chartered business jets,” i.e., charter and Skyjet card provider, is celebrating a very good 2007. “We’ve seen at least a 30% increase in the number of cards sold,” says managing director Chris Milligan. “From a dollar standpoint it’s a little bit more than that.” Skyjet claims credit for providing service opportunities that didn’t exist in 1997. “Skyjet has been at the forefront of many innovations,” Milligan says, aggregating demand and applying technology to make private jet travel more accessible. Skyjet says it was the first with a real-time booking engine for charter business jets that consumers could access via the Internet, and was the first to organize a prepaid card program that would utilize networks of charter operators. The concept has evolved into the Bombardier unit’s flagship Skyjet Card, allowing pre-purchase of 25, 50 or 100 flight hours in a preferred aircraft size. All operators, 22 Bombardier Learjet 45. Skyjet emphasizes, have met strict requirements and have been successfully rated by at least one of the three U.S. aviation audit authorities. Skyjet also offers the Flexjet 25 jet card, operated by Jet Solutions LLC, providing lift on an exclusive Flexjet 25 fleet of Bombardier business jets. “The vast majority” of aircraft carrying Skyjet customers are Bombardier types, Milligan says. Skyjet’s UK-based sister organization was rechristened Bombardier Skyjet International two years ago, creating a global from Fairfax, Virginia, to Dallas in June 2006, co-locating with Bombardier Flexjet, the fractional ownership program of Bombardier Aerospace. “The move has served to further leverage synergies with Flexjet and accommodate Skyjet’s growing business,” the company says. Bob Valdez is Skyjet marketing manager. Bombardier bought Skyjet in 2000 in part because it recognized a sales tool. “Skyjet’s the entry point,” Milligan says. “Skyjet occupies an important place in the market, touching the customer at the entry point of private flight.” When all goes well, customers come to like business flying and they move beyond the jet card to a Flexjet fractional ownership. From there, they may well buy outright. “There’s no one else who can take a customer from a onehour charter through owning Judith Moreton heads Skyjet International. a $40 to $50 million aircraft,” Milligan says. brand. Judith Moreton runs Skyjet Skyjet and parent Bombardier are International from London. at Booth 6418. Skyjet relocated its headquarters —Rich Piellisch September 27, 2007 www.aviationweek.com/shownews http://www.aviationweek.com/shownews

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Why Buy Columbia? Too Much of a Good Thing? The User Fee Fracas Big Toys for Big Boys Honeywell for RNP High Miles Air Taxi Bombardier at Your Service NARA Names Officers Learjet’s Racier Image ILA 2008 in Berlin Gulfstream Hangar Opens Anti-Runway Incursions Like ReallyLarge Cabins? Sentient-Jet Direct

B/CA Show News - NBAA 2007 - September 27, 2007

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