Rockwell Collins today began flight testing for its latest configuration of Pro Line Fusion® featuring the industry's first touch-screen primary flight displays. The tests are taking place on the company's Hawker Beechcraft King Air B200GT.

"Seeing this aircraft lift off the runway and realizing the positive impact that our touch-screen technology will have on aviation is a proud moment," said Greg Irmen, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins. "First flight for this latest configuration of Pro Line Fusion is a significant step in our development process. We're on track for bringing this innovation to market as planned."

Rockwell Collins' Pro Line Fusion with touch-screen and cursor-controlled flight displays will debut as a retrofit option from Hawker Beechcraft Global Customer Support (GCS) for Pro Line 21™-equipped King Air aircraft. Certification is expected by the end of 2013 with entry into service in early 2014.

Flight tests are being performed out of Rockwell Collins' Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based Flight Operations.

Pro Line Fusion utilizes empowering human interfaces and high-integrity software to create a flight deck environment that provides extensive situational awareness for pilots, adapts to future technology and airspace requirements, and is easy to manage. It is the only avionics system flexible enough to meet the mission needs of the full range of business aircraft, from turboprops to intercontinental business aircraft to the most sophisticated regional jets, and military aircraft. To date, Pro Line Fusion has been selected for 17 aircraft platforms.