Duncan Aviation engineering and certification services has revised two STCs, one for the Honeywell flight management system (FMS) and the other for Future Air Navigation System (FANS). The revisions to the STCs allow Challenger 601, 604, 605 and 650 (CL-601-3A/R variant) owner/operators to upgrade their existing NZ-2010 FMS to version 6.1.1.

“The upgrade to the 6.1.1 software will take care of the FANS latency issue,” explains certification coordinator Russ Kromberg. “The new software includes a message latency monitor to detect old controller-pilot data link communication (CPDLC) messages that may no longer apply. Prior to the software fix, air traffic control could send a pilot a message, and it was possible for that message to get lost or delayed. If the pilot later received the outdated CPDLC message that said to climb to a different altitude but didn't realise it was several hours old, the change in altitude could have devastating consequences. With this updated software, pilots will now be notified if the message is out of date.”

Duncan's engineering and certification services department has also completed an amendment for its STC for the Honeywell Primus Elite in the Embraer Legacy 600. The amended STC, the original having been completed in November 2017, is for use on an Embraer Legacy 600 and provides the option for the Primus Elite Advance Features (PEAF).

The amendment to add the Advanced Features option to the Honeywell Primus Elite STC consists of upgrading the existing Honeywell integrated avionics computer's and DU-875 advanced functions displays to allow for synthetic vision system functionality. On the primary flight display, synthetic vision provides a 3D colour image of runways, terrain and obstacles, giving pilots a clear view of the virtual flight path. In addition to SVS, this amendment also upgrades existing functionality for Meteorological Terminal Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) and Terminal Aerodrome Forecasts (TAF) to the available XM weather display selections on Primus Elite's enhanced moving map display on the multi function display.

Duncan is already seeing demand for the PEAF upgrade for those operators who have previously completed the DU-875 upgrade. A client in Texas was the first to have completed this upgrade at the Duncan Aviation Houston satellite avionics shop. “For customers with the DU-875 displays already installed, adding the PEAF requires just a short downtime and greatly enhances the pilots' experiences,” says Kromberg.

In addition to the DU-875 with PEAF STC, Duncan Aviation also recently completed two other STCs that complement the PEAF upgrades. The first STC upgrades the Honeywell FMZ-2000 to the FMZ-2010 for Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) and Vertical Navigation (VNAV). The second STC installs data link communication system to support Future Air Navigation (FANS 1/A+).

“With these three STCs installed as a bundle in your Embraer Legacy 600, you will have a number of powerful new cockpit features,” concludes manager of certification services Shawn Carraher.