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AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY This SWIR sensor is specially tuned to the frequency of runway lights, and is sensitive to the lumens inherent in this environment. The nose mounted sensor sends an image to the HUD as well as being selectable on an appropriate DU enabling the pilots to have an accurate and incisive look in low visibility. Even at night, the Gulfstream's EVS renders visible runway markings, taxiways, adjacent highways, and the surrounding landscape, drastically reducing the margin for error and for controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) which is the No. 1 danger in aviation today. LED taxi lights and more Examining the nose landing gear wheel well revealed that each of the taxi lights have evolved into multi element high intensity white LED segments. Another variant is the use of proximity sensors instead of mechanical switches to control landing gear sequencing. Each nose wheel includes a pressure transducer providing internal tire pressure to the onboard central maintenance computer (CMC) enabling tire pressure monitoring from the flight deck thereby limiting the need for carrying a mechanical pressure gauge on a pre-departure walkaround. The external fuselage is adorned with an array of strategically located antennae, most of which were easily recognizable. An additional maintenance feature was brought to my attention. I was informed that the onboard Health and Trend Monitoring system has the ability to communicate using a local Wi-Fi or Global System for Mobilcommunication (GSM) network providing aircraft system status and fault conditions to a flight tracking group. As we walked along the right side of the great machine the external Ram Air Turbine (RAT) door was visible. This backup device has the ability to convert airspeed into electrical energy using a propeller driving a generator. It does have the ability to energize flight critical systems in the event primary power sources were unusable. The wing is a new design for Gulfstream and incorporates a significant sweep to better handle the higher speeds of the G650 and they too have LED navigation lights. The twist with the new LED is they now incorporate a dual capability and can advise via a crew alert system (CAS) message if light has degraded but is still safe for flight or must be repaired. Digital fight deck The flight control system is fly-bywire and no, I don't mean the cable and pulley version found in the JetStar. The technology incorporates all the features and redundancy that can be expected in modern aircraft. Dual flight computers feed an array of, mostly interchangeable, servo actuators that prompt deflection of primary control surfaces and even spoilers. Like most digitally controlled systems, the fly-by-wire can be monitored from the flight deck and even control surface rigging is simplified by the well-thought-out synoptic pages that can be displayed on the DUs. Monitoring is an inherent feature of the flight deck and dispatch is allowed even with less than full system functionality. Once the external checks were complete, it did not take long to start the auxiliary power unit (APU), and run through the flight deck configuration using the integrated, customizable electronic checklist. Having spent significant hours occupying the jump seat in the JetStar, I was not really looking forward to the flight across the North American continent in the interiorless Gulfstream. Power and control Once the engines were online and we taxied onto the runway, there was no doubt in my mind "This was not your long time Georgiabuilt aircraft." Even with no interior, it was difficult to tell audibly when the engines reached take off and the G650 leapt into the air after a very short roll. The auto throttles regulated the thrust of the RollsRoyce engines and required very little attention from the crew. Once airborne, the flight displays portrayed any bit of information requested by the crew and all selectively displayed on the well-thought-out format on the four DUs. I recollected all the wiring needed by the JetStar to run the servo and synchro driven gauges and displays and how prone the analog signals were to cable shielding problems and how a pilot with a nylon paint brush, dusting instruments would build up an electromagnetic field strong enough to throw off a radio magnetic indicator (RMI). I recall looking at the wire bundles in the new Gulfstream and noting the electrical wiring interface system (EWIS) precautions that had been taken to prevent digital anomalies and electromagnetic induction (EMI). After a short climb to 40,000 feet, I walked back through the cabin and took note of the various Ethernet and fiber-optic devices that would all be part of the cabin management system (CMS). I did eventually get back to the jump seat and noticed the Mach indication revealed we were cruising at almost .92 Mach. After four and a half hours aloft, we landed on the West Coast of the United States with zero squawks. My education with this remarkable machine is just beginning and the thrill is back. It is also a fact that the line separating avionics from airframe and engines has been completely erased. About the only thing I could say was "Gee Whiz, what an aircraft!" AMT www.AMTSociety.org • www.AviationPros.com • Aircraft Maintenance Technology April 2013 27