Dassault Aviation’s revolutionary Combined Vision System – dubbed FalconEye - has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for use on the Falcon 2000S and LXS twinjet aircraft.

FalconEye will also be certified soon on the new Falcon 8X ultra-long range trijet.

FalconEye is the first head up display (HUD) system to blend synthetic, database-driven terrain mapping and actual thermal and low-light camera images into a single view, providing an unprecedented level of situational awareness to flight crews in all conditions of operation, day and night.

The system is equipped with a fourth-generation multi sensor camera that generates very high definition images close to those on a military FLIR. In synthetic vision system (SVS) mode, the camera displays a 30 by 40 degree field of view, one of the widest angles on any HUD, ensuring full coverage of the viewing area with no tunnel vision effects. And the system’s modular architecture will make it easy to add on future capabilities, like enhanced vision system (EVS) landings.

“FalconEye’s SVS function will provide a level of vision quality comparable to that of the most sophisticated fighter HUDs, leading to a substantial improvement in situational awareness and flight safety,” said Philippe Rebourg, the Dassault Aviation test pilot, who led the certification flight campaign. “The EVS function will eventually provide operational credits for bad weather approaches with 100 ft minimums, providing operators with a substantial operational benefit as well.”

Introduced in 2015, FalconEye completed an exhaustive two-year development, flight test and simulator campaign in April of this year to demonstrate combined SVS/EVS capability in all types of operating service, including fog, mist, snow and other severe weather conditions.

On the 8X, FalconEye will eventually be qualified not only for use on a single HUD but also in dual HUD configuration. By providing the same information and views heads-up to both the flying and non-flying pilot, the Dual HUD system will improve crew co-ordination and facilitate pilot training, too. Falcon 8X Dual HUD approval is anticipated in 2018.

More than 90 per cent of Falcon 8X customers have selected FalconEye, which will be available as an option on both the 8X and the 2000S/LXS.