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US-based aerospace technology company Northrop Grumman has supplied its Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) for integration with the Rockwell Collins Pro Line Fusion avionics programme that supported Embraer Legacy 500 business jet’s first flight recently.

The fibre-optic, gyro-compassing LCR-100 AHRS has been integrated with the avionics system on the fly-by-wire Legacy 500 and Legacy 450 business aircraft.

LCR-100 AHRS was developed by Northrop Grumman’s navigation systems subsidiary, Northrop Grumman LITEF in Germany.

Similar to an inertial reference system, the AHRS’s north-finding gyro-compassing feature eliminates the magnetic sensing unit requirement and offers navigation information such as the position, heading and attitude of the aeroplane.

The company noted that the system’s inertial measurement unit allowed extended coasting performance, which enables aircraft to access precise navigation information even if GPS signal is lost.

Northrop Grumman LITEF managing director Eckehardt Keip said that the gyro-compassing LCR-100 has successfully demonstrated its performance capabilities and efficiency during the first flight of the Embraer Legacy 500.

"Our system supports the precise navigation needed for required navigation performance airspace, and provides a totally independent source of critical flight information in case of GPS loss."

"Our system supports the precise navigation needed for required navigation performance airspace, and provides a totally independent source of critical flight information in case of GPS loss," Keip added.

Certification of the mid-size Legacy 500 is expected in early 2014, followed by that of the mid-light Legacy 450 executive jet.

Powered by Honeywell HTF7500E engines, the Legacy 500 will have a range of up to 5,560km, while Legacy 450 will have one of 4,260km.

Final assembly, systems integration and testing of these aircraft are carried out at Embraer’s aircraft manufacturing facilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Northrop Grumman LITEF provides inertial sensors, reference and navigation systems, as well as computers for aircraft, marine vessels, unmanned systems, cyber security, C4ISR and ground mobile applications in more than 30 countries.

Image: Northrop Grumman’s gyro-compassing navigation system demonstrated its performance capabilities during the first flight of Embraer Legacy 500 business jet. Photo: file image.