Chelton Flight Systems
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chelton Flight Systems is a part of Cobham plc Avionics and Surveillance. Based in Boise, Idaho Chelton. Originally started out as Sierra Flight Systems. Co-founded by Gordon Pratt and Rick Price in 1997.
| Chelton Flight Systems | |
 |
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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | Boise, Idaho, USA |
| Key people | Gordon Pratt, President |
| Industry | Aerospace |
| Products | Avionics |
| Website | cheltonflightsystems |
Contents |
[edit] History
- November 10, 2006 - CFS was granted FAA STC approval of the EFIS in the Eurocopter EC 120B helicopter.[citation needed]
- September 21, 2006 - CFS was chosen to supply the EFIS for MD Helicopters' light singles program.[citation needed]
- 2006 - CFS joins GlobalFlyer in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.[citation needed]
- April 30, 2006 - The M28 Sky Truck from Landmark Aviation delivered its first CFS EFIS equipped aircraft.[citation needed]
- June, 2001 - Cobham acquired Sierra Flight Systems and renamed the company Chelton Flight Systems.[citation needed]
- 1997 - CFS founded.
[edit] System Overview
Their aim was to provide a safer way to fly by reducing the number of accidents. This was achieved through enhancing situational awareness with real-time 3-D Synthetic vision, which shows where the plane is headed. Synthetic Vision allows the pilot to see at night or in inclement weather. A Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) was created which alerts the pilot when he is flying too low. Software was also developed that calculates real-time fuel consumption data; so the pilot knows how much fuel is left to burn. The system employs a Highway-In-The-Sky approach, HITS creates a virtual 3-D tunnel which is flown through. The single display integrates many stand alone instruments to provide the operator with information immediately . FlightLogic Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS) has a supplemental type certificate (STC) on over 740 aircraft.[citation needed]
[edit] Design Concepts
Chelton Flight Systems uses a two-display setup to bring the glass cockpit to general aviation. One display is the primary flight display (PFD). A PFD is defined as a display that provides all the information necessary for a pilot to control the aircraft. This includes pitch, roll, heading, altitude, airspeed and vertical speed information. In essence, the “six pack”. A multi-function display (MFD) displays supplementary information. The difference between the PFD and MFD is that the MFD has a satellites view of the world. The terrain awareness and warning system is a very useful feature that has visual and auditory cues to alert the pilot of obstacles or terrain in the flight path. Traditionally the TAWS is a separate unit, however CFS has integrated it into their displays. This is the same for the Flight Management System. The FMS is also included in the display unit. The FMS is a complete navigation system providing all ARINC 424 leg types with a Jeppesen database. Instrument approaches, waypoints, and high and low victor airways are part of the FMS.
[edit] Customers
- The Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer, flown by Steve Fosset.[citation needed]
- NASCAR team Evernham Motorsports.[citation needed]
- Bell and Eurocopter have installed the system on a few of their helicopter models.[citation needed]
