Innovative Solutions & Support announced it has developed a Cockpit/IP Flat Panel Display System for the 737-300/-400/-500, with operating lessor Jet Partners LLC as the launch customer for 30 firm units and 30 options. IS&S President Roman Ptakowski said the Exton, Pa.-based company is in the STC process with FAA and deliveries will occur after the Oct. 1 start of IS&S's next fiscal year.

IS&S developed the hardware and software for the retrofit, which includes flat panel displays for primary flight, navigation and engine instruments and replaces 65 traditional components with five LCD display units, two control panels and three data concentrator units, saving about 150 lb. of weight. The changeover can be accomplished with a week's downtime, Ptakowski said, and the company is looking at a price of $380,000 per installation.

The 737 Classic program builds on the firm's successful retrofit of the 767 on behalf of ABX Air with a flat panel cockpit that sells for $275,000 and requires a downtime of under three days for installation. As Ptakowski noted, the retrofit also makes it possible to equip the aircraft with newer systems such as electronic flight bags, ADS-B and XM or WSI satellite weather radar services.

He said IS&S is looking to do a similar LCD retrofit for the A300/A310 family. One of the impediments to a cost-effective upgrade of these aircraft is structural hindrances in the cockpit area, but the company has overcome these with thin LCD units that eliminate the need to carry out significant structural modifications to get the units to fit.