Inside Avionics

STEVE FOSSETT RELIED ON A CHELTON
Aviation Week & Space Technology
03/28/2005, page 57

Edited by David Hughes

STEVE FOSSETT RELIED ON A CHELTON Flight Systems electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) with a "highway-in-the-sky" presentation, coupled to a three-axis autopilot, to reduce workload during his solo circumnavigation in GlobalFlyer. The highway-in-the-sky guidance is displayed to the pilot on the EFIS as a series of boxes showing the aircraft's progress along a prescribed course. Underneath the boxes is a 3D model of the terrain below the aircraft. The system provided Fossett with key performance and navigation information, and stored the entire flight plan for retrieval and modification as needed. The EFIS made by the Boise, Idaho-based company is flying on a wide variety of general aviation aircraft, business jets and helicopters.