Avionics News January 2022 - 47

will expand its displays and how we
interface with displays. Another part
of Aspen is developing avionics that
are easy to use and install. We want
to extend that into a more complex
environment. We are developing
technology that enables easier use
rather than dumping a whole bunch of
raw information on pilots and having
them make all the decisions. "
Certification
" As an industry, we've asked
certification agencies to integrate
four or five new technologies into
traditional aviation, and I empathize
with this if they all hit at once instead
of individually, " Burns said, explaining
the biggest challenge facing this new
era of aviation. " The practical matter
is getting enough people up to speed
on what it takes to certify these types
of projects. That's why some of the
timelines may not be as realistic as
others. It is a real hurdle that we must
pragmatically get through. We have
to work with the agencies to come up
with the best way to do this. "
On the avionics side, Uczekaj is
optimistic about the certification
challenges ahead. " One of the neat
things we've seen with the FAA on
performance-based certifications,
and some of the things we've seen
in the Part 23 environment bringing
new technologies to market, is the
FAA has positioned itself well to work
with companies to introduce new
technologies as efficiently as possible.
Look at the Part 23 rewrite and the
products brought to market with it, not
to mention the experience. "
The FAA is recognizing the need
for these new safety-enhancing
technologies, he said. " I believe
some of the groundwork avionics
manufacturers have done in bringing
cost-effective avionics to the low
end will be expanded and used as
performance-based certifications "
avionics news * january 2022 47
of these new systems. Based on the
direction the FAA has been going in its
certification efforts, Uczekaj expects
" the industry and FAA to continue to
work hand in hand to improve safety in
a measured fashion. "
Burns agrees that performancebased
avionics certification is leading
the way, providing a performance-based
certification template for the other
systems essential for the success of
urban air mobility vehicles.
Nor can the industry ignore the
contribution of small, unmanned
aircraft systems, he said. " They got
out there ahead of us and really got
us a phenomenal cost break on new
sensors and sensor technologies. You
have some of these sensors on the
smallest drones; that clearly shows
that we can manufacture this whole
new suite of sensors such as lidar and
put them into the manned aviation
environment and dramatically improve
safety there as well. "
Uczekaj seconds the important
contribution of sensors integrated with
AI and flight control systems. " That's
an exciting thing for a lot of avionics
manufacturers. " But perhaps more
importantly, " New tech and UAM is
bringing a lot of new players into the
aerospace industry, and that creates new
opportunities for all kinds of companies, "
he said. " I think that's healthy for our
industry and customer base because
competition is what drives innovation
and what drives cost and prices down.
That's exciting for all of us. " q
To learn more about Aspen Avionics,
visit aspenavionics.com.
http://www.aspenavionics.com http://ciescorp.net
Avionics News January 2022

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