Australian International Airshow, Avalon, Victoria, Australia: Thomas Global Systems, a leader in the design, production and support of innovative electronics solutions for aerospace and defence applications, has received the Civil Industry National Innovation Award at the 2017 Aerospace Australia Limited Industry Innovation Awards for its TFD-8601 Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) display upgrade.
Announced on March 1 at the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition at Avalon, Victoria, the awards recognise and reward local companies and individuals at the forefront of aerospace innovation in Australia.
Thomas Global was awarded for its TFD-8601 AMLCD Upgrade, a cost-effective upgrade for Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) EFIS, which utilises a “plug-and-play” Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Display (AMLCD) to substitute ageing cockpit CRT displays that were first introduced in the early 1980s. The TFD-8601 is the first of its kind in enabling cockpit CRT displays to be replaced without disturbing the rest of the EFIS and cockpit wiring, and allowing aircraft operators to avoid costly full cockpit upgrades.
CEO of Thomas Global, Angus Hutchinson said: “We are delighted to receive the Civil Industry National Innovation Award, which recognises the efforts of the Thomas Global team in developing leading-edge avionics in Australia. We are thrilled to be recognised for our contribution towards enhancing Australia’s position as a source of leading aviation electronics for international markets.”
The TFD-8601 LCD display was developed in partnership with Regional Express (Rex), one of the world’s leading regional airlines and the world’s largest operator of Saab 340 aircraft. In September 2016, it was also granted an FAA STC for fitment on Embraer EMB 120 aircraft.
Thomas Global Systems is now leveraging its proprietary Adaptive Display Architecture™ embedded in the TFD-8601 display to address CRT obsolescence in an increasing range of narrow and wide-bodied aircraft, including new products developed with partners, such as L-3 Aviation Products.
