Southeast Aerospace (SEA) has received an FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) for the installation of the Universal Avionics InSight electronic flight instrument system (EFIS), datacomm for CPDLC and FANS 1/A, and a standby instrument in Hawker 800A/B/XP twinjets.

SEA partnered with Universal Avionics to supply the InSight integrated flight deck as an option for the three Hawker 800 variants with existing Collins EFIS 85/86, FCS-80, and APS-85 autopilots. InSight features embedded synthetic vision with mapping, electronic charts, and radio control. The Universal UniLink UL-801 and Latitude DL150 Data Link units provide FANS 1/A, CPDLC, and ATN B1 datalink capability. When integrated with the InSight EFIS, the Universal datalink unit brings additional navigation and communication capabilities, SEA said.

Further, the upgrade includes Mid-Continent's MD 302 SAM electronic standby instrument (ESI) to replace the existing ESI and a path to update older cockpit voice recorders, as well as provisions for new audio and weather radar.

No significant and “reasonable” upgrade paths for modernizing avionics on Hawker 800 aircraft have emerged since the aircraft entered production in the 1980s, SEA said. Thus, the company said its STC brings a much-needed solution for the aging and nearly or entirely obsolete original production avionics, provides new capabilities for pilots, and improves safety and efficiency “for years to come."