Esterline to supply flight deck solutions for new Gulfstream G500/G600 business jets

Esterline Corporation announced its participation in the launch of the new-generation G500 and G600 large-cabin, long-range business jets manufactured by Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics.

Curtis Reusser, Esterline CEO, said, “As specialists in human-machine interfaces for aerospace, Esterline is proud to be one of the lead contractors for the all-new Gulfstream flight deck with touchscreen technology.” Reusser said that Esterline's principal contribution to these state-of-the-art aircraft – the overhead panel for the flight deck – is an industry-first overhead panel using touchscreen controllers. He noted that another important achievement is the high level of synchronization between displays, which supports an unparalleled degree of redundancy and safety, one of the goals of the G500/G600 project.

Esterline is supplying integrated hardware and software from several brands in its Control & Communication Systems group, including its Korry® controls and displays, Mason(TM) cursor controllers, and Avista software verification services.

Esterline's control solutions interface with aircraft systems via an ARINC 825 controller area network (CAN). Hardware was designed to DO-254 Design Assurance Level A, and software to DO-178 Design Assurance Level A. Principal elements include:

• The overhead panel with touchscreen controllers, circuit-breaker panel, dimming control and specially designed 389-model 5/8-inch switches. The overhead panel features a very smooth human-machine touch interface and allows a high virtual-switch density, reducing the flight-deck footprint required for controls. The displays provide high luminance and contrast, a large viewing angle and low power consumption.

• Pilot and co-pilot cursor-control devices, designed to provide an optimal fit for hand and arm, with all controls easily accessible.

Significant characteristics of Esterline's flight-deck solutions include redundancy in the overhead displays and controls to allow continued functionality if several displays are inoperative, a cockpit-lighting control system with several lighting zones and multiple control points and a modular software architecture that can be easily reconfigured.