As computer technology advances, glass cockpit systems are declining in cost and becoming available in smaller general aviation aircraft.
At the National Business Aviation Association annual convention in October 2010, CMC Electronics announced that it had acquired the SmartDeck technology from L-3 and L-3 ceased all development.
This high speed connection interface is common on high-speed computers and is also used on military aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
The chief purpose of the SmartDeck Primary Flight Display is to provide the attitude, airspeed, altitude, turn rate, vertical speed and course information available in the standard six pack of a conventional cockpit.
Dedicated buttons along the bottom of the PFD are used to change the reference bugs for indicated airspeed, course, heading, altitude and vertical speed as well as the barometer setting and source for navigation information.
SmartDeck's PFD is also equipped with synthetic vision, a 3D rendering of obstacles, terrain and airports that allows the pilot to see "through" weather and darkness.
The map page is displayed for the majority of a routine flight on the MFD to aid the pilot in navigation and to assist with situational awareness.
Checklist progress is maintained when switching to other pages giving the pilot quick access to procedures without hindering safe navigation.
Because radio frequencies, flight plan data and airport info can also be manipulated on the MFD, SmartDeck provides a “feature in use” annunciation if the user is accessing or modifying information in two places at once.
The various autopilot modes include: SmartDeck has received Technical Standard Order (TSO) Authorization and Supplemental Type Certification (STC) from the FAA.
Following FAA certification, SmartDeck will compete directly with the Garmin G1000, Avidyne Entegra, Chelton FlightLogic and the Collins Pro Line series.