Rockwell Collins' electronic Engine Control Unit brings the Rotax 912 iS aircraft engine into a new era of propulsion efficiency for light aircraft

Rockwell Collins' new electronic dual-channel Engine Control Unit (ECU) will be featured on the Rotax® 912 iS piston engine for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). This ECU, which is the first that meets aerospace design assurance standards for certification in the LSA market, was announced at a launch event today at the BRP-Powertrain factory in Gunskirchen, Austria, an affiliate of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP).

"We chose to work with Rockwell Collins for the development of the ECU of the Rotax 912 iS engine because of their expertise and the fact that they are one of the very few FAA certified production and design organizations for ECU development," said François Tremblay, director of the Aircraft engine business at BRP.

The Rockwell Collins ECU is a fully automatic, redundant and proven engine control system that reduces pilot workload and delivers optimized engine performance. The ECU automates manual tasks such as adjusting air/fuel mixture and controlling exhaust gas temperatures.

"This revolutionary technology brings a new era of propulsion efficiency and safety to light sport aircraft and general aviation," said Dr. David Vos, senior director, Control Technologies for Rockwell Collins. "Now operators can operate the engine with ease, without having to worry about completing manual tasks to optimize performance throughout all operating conditions."

The ECU enhances flight safety by continually monitoring engine and control system health, and detecting and mitigating potential faults and failures. Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the Rotax 912 iS piston engine is expected later this year.