FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Trotter Controls, Inc. recently introduced a new pilot interface for the GEN II Fire Retardant Dispersal System (FRDS). It uses a much larger display, is readable in direct sunlight or in total darkness and has much larger characters. The unit has a manual contrast knob so that the display can be optimized for the pilot’s viewing angle and ambient temperature conditions. The pilot interface sports a liquid crystal display (LCD) that replaces the much smaller vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) used on earlier model FRDS GENII systems. Air Tractor in Olney, Texas installed the first new, larger LCD display on a production aircraft the last week of February. Certification was received at the end of January, making this the first unit in the field. Extensive testing, including tests for temperature and vibration effects, has been done to ensure that operation in the field is reliable. The operation of the new pilot interface is identical to the original GEN II FRDS VFD display except for the addition of the LCD contrast knob.
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