The VistaNav folks brought their new synthetic vision units to Sun ‘n Fun in Lakeland,Fla., this week to introduce them to the flying world. The CIS-2000 and CIS-2200 systems provide faster graphic processing capabilities for smooth, lifelike, 3-D motion on the screen. The system is not certified, so it’s for information-only, not for navigation, but VistaNav’s Jeff Simon said he knows of at least two instances when pilots were able to use VistaNav to help get safely out of an emergency situation. One was a pilot who lost avionics at night in IMC, and one was a helicopter pilot who got caught in white-out conditions in a snow squall. The CIS-2000 system is designed for mid-level aircraft and can be powered from the cigarette lighter. A flat-screen display can be mounted in the coc kpit, and a 15-foot cable connects it to the hard drive, which can be secured anywhere in the aircraft. Both systems will be ready to ship in June, Simon said.
The CIS-2000 goes for $5,999 and the CIS-2200 for $9,999. “Synthetic vision is definitely the future,” Simon said. He estimated that within three years or so it will be the standard for all avionic systems.
