Rockwell Collins today announced that its HGS-3500, the industry's first Head-up Guidance System (HGS) developed for mid-size and light business aircraft and multi-spectral EVS-3000 enhanced vision system have been certified for the Embraer Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 executive jets - the first certification for both technologies. The systems bring revolutionary flight deck technology to the business aviation market segment that enhance pilot situational awareness and increase safety.

The HGS-3500 is an all-in-one head-up guidance solution designed with waveguide optics that couple with the Legacy 450 and 500's Pro Line Fusion avionics system. The HGS easily conforms to the flight deck's structure, providing pilots with a tool to improve situational awareness for every flight as well as access to airports during low-visibility conditions. It comes standard with synthetic vision for even greater situational awareness and optional enhanced vision, enabled by Rockwell Collins' EVS-3000. The EVS delivers high-fidelity detection, including ground-based LED lights.

Having synthetic and enhanced vision on the HGS sets the stage for a combined head-up vision system in the future, which will make for a full-time, augmented view of the outside world for enhanced situational awareness and getting all the way to the runway when the visibility is low.

“The Legacy 450 and 500 flight deck defines innovation and delivers the right balance of pilot and machine interaction,” said Craig Olson, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins. “The certification of the HGS and EVS used on these aircraft is a big step toward the widespread use of head-up vision systems as a primary means of operation.”

“The Legacy 450 and Legacy 500 are the first aircraft to set this new standard of operational performance in the mid-light and midsize segments,” said Marco Tulio Pellegrini, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. “Combined with these aircraft's Full Fly-By-Wire Technology, the Embraer Enhanced Vison System delivers innovation previously only available in much larger business aircraft, at a fraction of the price.”

Operators equipped with Rockwell Collins' HGS and EVS are able to fly specially approved approaches at airports around the world, which allow for further descent before making a final decision to land.

With more than 8,000 HGS displays delivered to date, Rockwell Collins leads the aviation head-up display market segment. The company's HGS is operated every day by hundreds of corporate, airline and military transport aircraft operators around the world.