On Tuesday, October 15, 2013, Meridian hosted a simulation class for the new ‘Fly-By-Wire’ technology found in the Embraer Legacy 450 and 500. Robert Hollander, Regional Sales Director, and Craig Jacobson, Production Test Pilot, were on-hand from Embraer to educate interested participants in how the technology works, and to offer demonstrations with the flight simulator that was set-up in the FBO’s training room.
Fly-by-wire technology replaces conventional cables, rods and pulleys with digital flight controls. The pilot’s inputs are converted to electronic signals and transmitted by wires. Flight control computers determine how to move the actuators at each control surface to provide the directed response.
The Legacy 450 and 500 are the first business jets in their segment to use fly-by-wire in a fully closed loop system for pitch, roll and yaw control. The benefits of a fly-by-wire closed loop control system are many. It allows maximized performance of the aircraft at all times, it guarantees the best control of the airplane, it reduces the pilot workload, and increases safety with the addition of flight envelope protection functions.
“This technology is a game-changer in the industry, and we expect to see other manufacturers adopting fly-by-wire systems in the near future,” says Mr. Hollander.
