Press Release

Issued by Universal Avionics, an Elbit Systems company.

January 21, 2009

The Universal Avionics EFI-890R Flat Panel Display is now an option for Astra operators looking to add glass to their flight deck. While the EFI-890R is available for numerous Part 23 and Part 25 platforms, this certification represents Universal Avionics' first EFI-890R certification in the Gulfstream Astra 1125 (G100) aircraft. The FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) was awarded to Columbia Avionics, Inc., based out of Columbia, Missouri in December and includes Universal's EFI-890R Flat Panel Displays, Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System, Application Server Unit (ASU) and dual Radio Control Units (RCUs).

The Astra installation features a three-panel EFI-890R display suite, configured as two Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) and one Navigation Display (ND). The large format PFDs provide all critical flight data consolidated onto one easy-to-read display, including attitude, heading, airspeed, altimeters, vertical speed, radar altimeter and navigation information. The ND will display weather information from the aircraft's onboard weather radar system, GPS/FMS navigation data, weather data link, JeppView approach plates, TCAS, TAWS/EGPWS and other information. The EFI-890R is specially designed for retrofit applications where interface with existing equipment is paramount. Existing equipment onboard this Astra included Universal's TAWS, FMS and UniLink systems.

In what is now being considered standard equipment onboard new and used aircraft alike, glass panel displays greatly improve safety and reduce pilot workload. Digital electronics improve accuracy and dependability, and provide dual redundancy with reversionary display capability and the fault-tolerant built-in test.  

The Universal Avionics Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System provides a 3-dimensional synthetic vision view of the terrain around the aircraft. Universal's unique combination of Exocentric and Egocentric views greatly enhances situational awareness and safety.

The Application Server Unit (ASU) allows the EFI-890R system to display Jeppesen approach plates, electronic documents, WSI weather and checklists. The WSI AV-300 Weather Data Link provides the crew with real time weather, including NEXRAD radar, METARs and other valuable weather information.

As an Authorized Universal Avionics Dealer, Columbia Avionics holds multiple STCs for EFI-890R packages on other platforms, including the Cessna Citation 500 series and 650 series aircraft. "Universal is pleased with Columbia's success in identifying and certifying additional EFI-890R candidate aircraft types", said Dan Reida, Universal's Vice President of Marketing. "Their innovativeness serves them well in these tough economic times."