Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 Avionics
Rockwell Collins calls its Pro Line 21 avionics suite an “investment in performance.” Statements like this commonly run amok in marketing brochures, but this time, we agree with their statement, as does Cessna, Raytheon, Bombardier, Gulfstream, and Dassault several of Rockwell Collins ’ aftermarket dealers. The Pro Line 21 system is currently used in the CJ1+, CJ2+, CJ3, CJ4, Encore+, XLS+, the Premier 1A, both the Challenger 300 and Challenger 605, LearJet60XR, Gulfstream 150, Piaggio Avanti II, King Air B200 and 350, and Hawker 800XP, 850XP, 750, and 900XP. Dassault Rockwell Collins dealers are is currently retrofitting the line to the Falcon 20 and , Falcon 50. Additional retrofits are have taken place in the Challenger 601, Citation 550, Hawker 700 and 800, and the King Air 90, 200, 300 and 350. Although these jets range from light to ultra long-range heavy, they do share the common trait of having enjoyed unusual success in the private jet sales market. Thus, we have already answered the question of whether or not the Pro Line 21 system is good, which leaves us with the question: why?
The Pro Line 21 system was designed to be intuitive, so the pilots could quickly understand and act on the ever-changing mountain of data they are presented with. All flight data, including navigation, engine performance, and sensor readings are displayed on large, flat-panel LCD’s. The Primary Flight Displays (PFD) complement the Multi-Functional Display (MFD). Real-time weather and terrain data ahead of the planned flight route can be accessed via the Broadcast Graphical Weather system. The Collins FMS-3000 is an integral part of the system, which provides cutting-edge flight planning, flight management, and multi-sensor navigation capabilities. A flight plan uplink feature simplifies the modification of planned routes. Electronic charts are a particularly useful feature: pilots can access airport approach plates, electronic checklists, and digital airport maps which display the real-time position of the jet. Another noteworthy feature of the Pro Line 21 suite is the HGS, a H heads-up navigation Guidance System display. It that is designed to increase safety and precision in approaches, particularly during poor weather.
One of the Pro Line 21’s greatest strengths is its potential for future improvement. Rockwell Collins first installed the Pro Line 21 system in year 2000, knowing that it would soon be obsolete obsolescence is always an issue. Technology in the avionics sector evolves quickly, and state-of-the art cockpits fall behind the performance levels of new aircraft fairly quickly. With all of that in mind, Rockwell Collins designed the Pro Line 21 system to have plenty of growing room. Its layout is quite flexible, and all systems were miniaturized to the maximum extent possible, the result being a very light, small avionics system that falls well under cockpit space and weight limits.
For that reason, the Pro Line 21 system has been able to easily transition to new technologies. Recent retrofit options for the standard Pro Line 21 cockpit include the all of the regulatory mandated upgrades, FDS-2000 Flight Display System IFIS , which stands for Integrated Flight Information System, solid-state AHRS, and TCAS II. The list of new technologies that can be added to a Pro Line 21 cockpit continues to grow, making it an excellent starting point for any private jet with high aspirations. The Pro Line 21 system originally made its mark in the private jet industry by providing flight information in an intuitive, easy-to-operate format. The tradition of pilot-friendly avionics remains constant as the Pro Line 21 system evolves.