Thomas Global Systems and Regional Express (Rex) today announced the successful first deliveries of the LCD TFD-8601 cockpit display, which is designed to replace traditional cockpit CRT primary flight displays on corporate and regional aircraft.
Angus Hutchinson, CEO of Thomas Global Systems said, “The TFD-8601 LCD is a plug-and-play replacement for legacy CRT units and provides the aircraft with a flexible platform that can accommodate NextGen capabilities. The TFD-8601 is designed to drive down maintenance costs and extend cockpit life, allowing operators to get the most out of their existing cockpit. The TFD-8601 received its Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the SAAB 340 on April 17, 2015.
“This innovative cockpit solution is a replacement for the Rockwell Collins EFD-86 CRT unit, which is used on a range of regional and corporate aircraft including SAAB 340, Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia, Beechcraft King Air, Dassault Falcon, Gulfstream, Hawker and Learjet. It is 50% lighter than the comparable CRT display, with significantly higher reliability and lower power consumption.”
Rex’s General Manager of Engineering, Dale Hall, said that the system is the result of Rex’s search for an avionics display system that could respond to the regulatory and technological challenges over the next decade.
“The Thomas LCD TFD-8601 has proven to have fulfilled all our requirements in rigorous testing on our aircraft and simulator over the last nine months. It is a plug-and-play solution which allows us to replace only the display that is defective instead of all four at a time. This also has the added advantage that we do not need to conduct additional training for our crew and the implementation could be phased in according to operational needs. We will replace all our units over the next three years.”
“The system has been designed to allow integration with ADS-B output which enables our fleet to be fully compliant with impending regulations effective in February 2017. We are confident that with the architecture we have specified, this system could also be easily upgraded to meet regulatory requirements that may be enforced over the next 10 years, thereby future-proofing our fleet.”
Regional Express (Rex) is Australia’s largest independent regional airline operating a fleet of more than 40 SAAB 340 aircraft on some 1,300 weekly flights to 53 destinations throughout New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Queensland. The Rex Group comprises Regional Express, air freight and charter operator Pel-Air Aviation and Dubbo-based regional airline Air Link, as well as the pilot academy Australian Airline Pilot Academy.
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