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New SARAS aircraft takes to the air using Barco’s MFD 6.8/1 Multi-Function Displays

Barco taps into the market of small commuter aircraft

KORTRIJK, BELGIUM, 22 September 2004 – India’s first homemade civil passenger aircraft, the brand-new SARAS, has performed a first series of test flights using Barco’s FAA TSO Certified MFD 6.8/1 Multi-Function Displays. The first SARAS prototype took off from the Indian HAL airport for its successful maiden flight last May. The aircraft’s outstanding first test program constitutes a major step forward in India’s civil aeronautics and holds promising opportunities for Barco’s avionics displays on the market of small commuter aircraft in India and abroad.

The SARAS, named after the Indian Crane, was designed by the National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), a constituent laboratory of India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). The new SARAS is a multi-role small aircraft, designed to offer maximum operational flexibility. It can operate as a passenger carrier, executive craft, air ambulance, air rescue craft or coast guard aeroplane. In its primary role as a regional commuter craft, the SARAS will provide space for 14 to 18 passengers. The executive version, with longer range, will have nine deluxe seats and a combination version will have seven economy class seats with space for light cargo. The aircraft’s state-of-the-art cockpit provides crew members with the latest instrumentation and avionics, including two Barco MFD 6.8/1 Multi-Function Displays.

The MFD 6.8/1 Multi-Function Displays, integrated into the SARAS prototype, are state-of-the-art primary flight instrumentation displays featuring a sunlight-readable 6" x 8" screen. The units’ advanced AMLCD technology ensures a superior optical performance in terms of luminance, contrast and reflectivity. The NAL opted for Barco’s MFD 6.8/1 displays because of their excellent image quality under all conditions and their intelligent split-box concept, which allows for easy integration. For use in civil environments, such as the SARAS, the units have been qualified to meet the highest market standards, including TSO qualification by the Federal Aviation Administration.

With the SARAS program, Barco taps into the market of small commuter aircraft, a type often used in a “feeder” role connecting small airfields to regional hubs or airports in low-density locations. With the growing importance of regional air traffic all over the world, this market sector is expected to represent considerable growth over the next 20 years.

About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, provides visualization and display solutions for professional markets. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco has a network of subsidiaries, distributors and agents in almost 100 countries. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company.