Thomas Global Systems has received the Excellence in Innovation Award at the 2016 Aviation/Aerospace Australia Airspace Awards.
Sponsored by Boeing Aerostructures, this award highlights the unique factors that make Australian industry a leader in aviation and aerospace innovation.
Thomas Global was recognised for its Adaptive Display Architecture, and the associated development of a cost-effective upgrade for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Electronic Flight Information Systems (EFIS), which utilises a “plug-and-play” LCD display to substitute aging cockpit CRT displays that were first introduced in the early 1980s.
In accepting the award CEO Thomas Globa Angus Hutchinson paid special tribute to the important contributions of Regional Express (Rex) and the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) in supporting the company’s innovation agenda.
“The TFD-8601 was developed in partnership with Regional Express, one of the world’s leading regional airlines and the world’s largest operator of Saab 340 aircraft, with specific objectives to be cost effective, truly plug-and-play and with very high standards of fidelity to the existing CRT display.
"Thomas Global’s engineers developed a product that completely satisfied Rex’s requirements, working closely with the airline’s engineers to ensure that the solution was workable and practical. The TFD-8601 was first flown in the Saab 340 fleet of Rex on 11 August 2015 and replaces Rockwell Collins Proline II CRT displays.
“Regional Express, as launch customer for the TFD-8601 display – the first product to include Adaptive Display Architecture – has provided us with tremendous support and encouragement.
"Also working closely with CASA, this is a great example of what Australian industry can deliver, working together.”
Until the development of the TFD-8601, there was no ability to specifically target CRT obsolescence without replacing the full EFIS – a very costly exercise, in addition to the significant equipment downtime and pilot retraining required.
“Our Adaptive Display Architecture is a game changer," COO David Barnes added. "It allows CRT cockpit displays to be replaced instantly without disturbing the rest of the EFIS and cockpit wiring. CRT obsolescence is eliminated while also allowing for a NextGen growth path."