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PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:

Barco displays and processing units selected for Zeppelin
Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Innovative visualization solutions provider Barco is proud to announce that it has been selected to supply EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System) displays and processing units for three Zeppelin NTs. The airships are the first zeppelins to make use of a Barco aerospace solution.

As part of the biggest deal in the history of ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co KG, the Friedrichshafen-based company will deliver three Zeppelin NTs (model LZ N07-101) to the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.

Besides the sale of the airships, Goodyear and Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik have concluded agreements on the joint development and funding of a new cockpit display system to be installed in the instrument panel of the new Zeppelin NTs. The partners agreed to replace nearly all the hardware items of the ten-year old display system. The redesign of the IDS (instrument display panel) will upgrade the existing I-Panel to a modern glass cockpit with two off-the-shelf display units for EICAS (Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System) and two Dual EFIS Displays for PFD (Primary Flight Display).

New indication system with innovative features

Barco has been selected to supply the EICAS displays and processing units. The visualization pioneer will deliver a CHDD-268 Cockpit Head Down Display. Equipped with sunlight-readable AMLCD and LED backlight technology, the CHDD-268 provides exceptionally high brightness, excellent contrast and a very wide viewing angle in all directions. The fully compatible Barco PU-2000 multi-capability processing unit will provide the CHDD-268 with high-criticality data. The use of MOSArt (Modular Open System Architecture for real-time avionics applications) allows the PU-2000 to host different criticality level software applications.

The Barco EICAS will indicate very specific airship data, such as fuel status, water ballast and parameter limits. It offers new features to the pilot. It can add and remove information indicated on the screen, and make adjustments to key parameters like fuel quantity, water ballast, etc. The EICAS displays will also be available for incorporation in future Zeppelin NTs.

A convincing Barco offer

"We opted for Barco as our preferred EICAS supplier for several reasons," commented Thomas Brandt, General Manager at Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik. "First and foremost, the CHDD-268 boasts excellent display quality and offers ease of use to pilots. Second: the open MOSArt software platform allows a perfect integration with our custom-made avionics suites, and minimizes the certification effort and risk. In addition, through Barco's US service sites and representatives, we can offer local support to Goodyear."

Kristof Vierin, Vice President Business Development Aerospace Barco: "We value the cooperation with Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik highly, as it marks two wonderful firsts for Barco: a brand-new platform and an entrance for Barco aerospace to the civil airship market. We are hopeful that this project will set a visualization benchmark in the promising Zeppelin market. Barco looks forward to strengthening its cooperation with Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik."

Goodyear will use the three airships for marketing purposes and for VIP passenger flights to support local and national charities. They will be delivered over the coming six years. The first airship will commence its Goodyear operation in January 2014.

Contact details from our directory:
ScioTeq Electronic Flight Instrument Systems, Moving Maps, LCD Displays, Flight Management Systems, Onboard Computers
ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik GmbH & Co. KG Airframer
Related aircraft programs:
Zeppelin NT
Related directory sectors:
Indicators and Instruments
Flight and Data Management