• Reduces pilot workload through integration
• Supports multisensor integration through flexible architecture
• Reduces the number of LRUs
• Reduces the number of installed wires
• Reduces overall system weight
• Offers a wide variety of system options/capabilities
• Provides extensive on-board maintenance capability

Collins Pro Line 4 is the industry-leading integrated system for business and regional aircraft. The Pro Line 4 system brings years of engineering and operational experience to provide a scalable system to meet a wide variety of customer needs.

The flexibility of the Pro Line 4 system allows the usage of a number of subsystems necessary to meet the mission requirements of the aircraft. These subsystems include the Electronic Flight Instruments System (EFIS), Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS), automatic Flight Controls System (FCS), Maintenance Diagnostics System (MDS), Flight Management System (FMS), radio sensors, geophysical sensors and situational awareness sensors.

The IAPS allows for system reduction of wire count, weight and power. Not only does it house the I/O, but it also houses the power supplies and environmental protection needed to meet regulatory requirements.

A wide variety of EFIS are offered. Pro Line 4 EFIS are all fully integrated CRT displays. All data processing and symbol generation are accomplished in the control head. The current sizes offered are 6x7-inch and 7-1/4-inch square displays.

The basic systems contain Primary Flight Displays (PFDs) and Multifunction Displays (MFDs).

The PFD displays information such as attitude, airspeed, altitude, vertical speed, heading, active navigation source, autopilot/flight director modes, weather radar information as well as other selected information. The formats displayed can vary from aircraft manufacturer to aircraft manufacturer. However, the basic system display philosophy remains consistent in all systems.

The MFD's main function is to display map data. This data contains a graphical depiction of the aircraft flight plan as well as all pertinent data regarding situational awareness. This includes weather and traffic information, if the option is selected.

The MFD also displays data windows for such information as sensors, navigational, maintenance and navaid selection. Other information can be displayed if required.

The EFIS is designed for maximum use of integration in order to allow for easy interpretation and added situational awareness.

Either MFD can display PFD information in reversionary mode.

The EICAS is designed to provide all engine instrumentation and crew annunciations in an integrated format. The information supplied includes display of torque, interstage turbine temperature, fan speeds, fuel flow, oil temperature and pressure.

As part of the EICAS, graphical depiction of aircraft systems can be displayed. Such systems as electrical, hydraulic, icing, environmental and control surface position can be represented.

All aircraft messaging relating to the above systems are displayed on the EICAS.

The FCS is a fully digital, fail-safe autopilot. The system is capable of Category II operation. The FCS interfaces to a wide range of sensors, including Attitude and Heading Reference Systems (AHRS), Inertial Reference Systems (IRS) and Air Data Systems (ADS).

This sensor information is then applied to a standard set of control laws developed by Rockwell Collins. These algorithms provide superb aircraft handling and flying characteristics as proven in our previous-generation autopilots.

Interface to the FCS is supplied through the Flight Control Panel (FCP). The FCP is specifically tailored to the airframe manufacturer's needs for inclusion into their aircraft. It supplies control and selection for modes, airspeeds, references and trim.

The MDS is greatly enhanced with the Pro Line 4 architecture. Unlike traditional built-in diagnostics, the MDS provides fault analysis with constant monitoring, immediate identification, recording and display of maintenance information in plain English.

A complete fault history of each Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) can be shown on the aircraft's multifunction display or downloaded to disk for shop use. The system also provides the ability to perform a trend analysis. These combined capabilities are extremely valuable in troubleshooting intermittent or transient failures and help the flight or maintenance crew identify the appropriate preventative or corrective action.

In addition to the basic features, EICAS-equipped aircraft are capable of recording engine parameter and trend analysis data. This data can be effectively used for determining engine/aircraft maintenance. A long-term history of engine exceedances is also provided.

The flight management system provided in Pro Line 4 is designed to meet the demanding market needs. There are four series in the Collins FMS family. The 6000 series is designed for heavy business operations; the 5000 series for medium/light business operations; the 4000 series for regional aircraft; and the 3000 series for light business operations.

The systems provide such functionality as full flight planning, lateral navigation, full profile multi-waypoint vertical navigation, complete Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS), airways, holding patterns and full performance.

The FMS can be tailored specifically for the mission requirements of the aircraft. Interface to the computer is accomplished through Control Display Units (CDUs). The type and size of the CDU is dependant on the aircraft size and operating environment. They range from a 6-3/8-inch LCD CDU to a 9-inch ARINC 702 CDU for regional airline operations.

The FMS uses a complete compliment of sensors; VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR), Distance Measuring System (DME), Global Positioning System (GPS), Inertial Reference System (IRS) and Instrument Landing System (ILS). These sensors are blended into a single position using Kalman filter methods to produce the best solution for all phases of flight, including FMS-to-ILS transitioning .

These sensors have been the benchmark of aviation for over 50 years, providing superb reliability, operational flexibility and growth to meet the demanding needs of the evolving air traffic management system.

Designed to operate as either individual units or as part of a complete package, Collins Pro Line navigation sensors meet a wide variety of applications from business aviation to the demanding workloads of regional airlines.

The navigation sensors include:

• ADF-462 - with frequencies up to 2182 kHz, simplicity of design and advanced techniques provide increased reliability and accuracy.
• DME-42/442 - three-channel scanning displays current ground speed, distance from the station and the ETA at the station.
• VIR-32/432 - provides all VOR/ILS functions, including localizer, glideslope and marker beacon compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 10 FM Immunity requirements.
• ALT-4000 - provides accurate measurement of terrain from minus 20 to 2500 feet, and supports Cat III and single installation Cat II.

In addition to the flight control computers, Rockwell Collins provides a number of geophysical sensors including AHRS and ADS.

The AHRS represents a new approach in sensing aircraft attitude and heading information that completely eliminates complex electromechanical gimbaled technology. In the AHRS, attitude and heading information is obtained by electronically processing three-axis rate and acceleration information sensed by Rockwell Collins' rotating piezoelectric multisensor. This technology eliminates many issues associated with conventional gyroscopic devices, resulting in improved accuracy, increased reliability and reduced installation costs.

The system consists of a attitude heading computer, flux detector unit, mount and internal compensation unit, that provide three-axis position, rate and acceleration data.

The ADS is an all-digital solid-state system that senses, computes and displays all parameters associated with aircraft movement through the atmosphere. The design features a solid-state piezoresistive sensor, digital computation and display, fault isolation and diagnostics. In addition, programmable outputs and interfaces are supplied to allow implementation into a wide range of aircraft applications. Ultimately, the Pro Line 4 ADS design provides increased reliability and enhanced performance.

Communication is synonymous with Rockwell Collins. As the new age of Communication, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) continues to evolve, the role of communications equipment is becoming the focal point. We offer a wide variety of communications equipment to meet the operators' needs.

Collins VHF radios provide all the necessary features to operate in today's environment, including extended frequency ranges to 152 MHz. However, the need to operate under reduced channel spacing requirements and the need for data transmission is quickly becoming a reality. The Collins VHFs are capable of being upgraded to the new 8.33 kHz channel spacing requirement, as well as providing data capability. All this, and the ability to integrate smoothly with the entire radio product line, makes the Collins VHF an easy choice.

The HF Comm has many features including:

• Growth to HF data link
• Reduced installation weight and fiber-optic system control with immunity to EMI
• Programmable channels and presets
• HF frequencies from 2.0000 to 29.9999 MHz in both upper and lower sidebands

The SAT-906 provides up to six channels of simultaneous communications that can be used either in the cabin or in the flight deck. These channels can be used for flight deck voice or data, revenue-generating passenger telephone, fax or personal computer data links.

The system utilizes smart digital handsets and data ports for fax/modem transmissions, each with its own separate on-board address enabling callers to dial a specific seat or fax/modem location within the aircraft. And because the signal is digitized at the handset or fax/modem port before transmission from the aircraft, security is equivalent to your land-based telephone systems.

As the airspace and pilot workload become more demanding, the need for situational awareness is ever increasing. Rockwell Collins offers a number of products designed to increase crew situational awareness.

The TWR-850 exhibits numerous benefits and features: the ability to interface with various antenna sizes (12-, 14- and 18-inches), solid-state design (no magnetron), turbulence detection, sector scan, split sweep display, ground clutter suppression, Path Attenuation Compensation (PAC) alert and autotilt, to mention a few. All of these features, including the antenna, reside in a single unit.

With the ability to integrate into all Collins Pro Line display systems, increased reliability and low cost of installation/ownership, the Collins turbulence-detection radar sets the industry standard.

Collins TCAS-94 can detect and track up to 64 aircraft simultaneously. Each of these aircraft is filed and prioritized by level of threat and displayed on the traffic display for pilot and copilot viewing. The system also uses a diversity Mode-S transponder to communicate aircraft to aircraft, as well as to provide ground communication and surveillance.

Collins TCAS 94 consists of a TCAS Receiver/Transmitter (R/T) computer, a single (or dual if requested) directional TCAS antenna, a single (or dual if requested) Mode S transponder and a variety of controls and displays. The display can either be standalone or completely integrated into the Collins Pro Line EFIS.