AIR Control Display, ACD-57 Digital Altimeter and (optional) Radio and Transponder Controller

AIR Control Display is our newly designed multi function display. It is a fully certified altimeter, controls aircraft radios, and controls transponders. Air Control Display works well with many aircraft radios and Mode-S/ADS-B transponders. 

AIR Control Display is a fully ETSO certified primary altimeter. You can use the display "standalone" as an easy to read altimeter with really large numbers and perfect reliability, especially in high vibration environments like helicopters, old powered aircraft, or self-launching motorgliders. If space is an issue, you can use the altimeter function in parallel to COM, XPDR, or both. This not only saves you one entire instrument worth of panel space, but it also offers better readability and reliability compared to most mechanical altimeter systems. As you can see in the videos (links below) the altimeter display is extremely easy to read, smooth, and lovely! The altimeter shows the current altitude in an aviation-standard tape-style indicator with large and easy-to-read numbers. The smooth feel and quick response help understanding the current vertical rate nicely. It can even be used as a not energy-compensated variometer.

Finally - A Precise 57mm Altimeter
Until now, the Winter 4555 altimeter was the only 57mm altimeter available for use in sailplanes. But it is not as precise as larger altimeters, which sometimes leads to issues when trying to get transponder installation sign-offs. The ACD-57 is a very precise altimeter - which should help with the transponder installation approvals.

Plays well with many radios
AIR Control Display by design is compatible to a multitude of different 8.33kHz COM systems. Currently supported radios include the the BECKER 62XX line of compact radios, the Trig TY91 and TY92, and the product line of TQ avionics radios. Radios are remotely installed in the aircraft and connected using a cable. If the connected radio features its own controls and display, these controls can be deactivated to save power or used in parallel. This functionality is especially useful in 2-seat sailplanes because it allows the 2nd-seat pilot to control a radio that is mounted in the front seat. Alternatively, in single-seat sailplanes with limited panel space, a radio "black box" radio unit such as a Becker RT6201 or Trig TY91-Remote can be mounted remotely with the ACD-57 using only a single 57 mm instrument hole to function as both the altimeter and radio control unit.

Note: An optional, extra-cost license is required to control a radio using the ACD-57. A cable for connection to the radio is also required and not included.

Backup Power
Since your altimeter is an important flight instrument, you may want to ensure it is always powered using a backup power supply.  I offer plug-and-play AA battery packs and panel-mountable toggle switches for switching between main power and the AA battery pack.  If your main power supply fails, you just switch to the backup battery pack.  The AA battery pack will run the ACD-57 for several hours.  You'd just add an red and black Anderson Powerpole connector to the ACD-57's power cable and plug it into the battery switch harness.  You'd also connect 12V power from the glider's power system and the AA battery pack.  Please scroll down to the bottom of this page to see the switches and AA battery pack in the Related Products section below.

Reciprocal Acceptance FAQs - How to use the ACD-57 as a altimeter with FAA approval.

Manuals & Software Upgrades

Videos:

• Altimeter: https://vimeo.com/300447014
• Altimeter - Selecting Altitude Units & Setting Reference Pressure: https://vimeo.com/300446987
• Radio Control: https://vimeo.com/234818731

Included:

• B541, ACD-57 Display with Altimeter Functionality Enabled
• Printed Manual
  
• Mounting screws

Not Included:

• Air-ACD-Cable-Power - Required when using the Altimeter functions only.  Not required when using a Goddard harness to connect it to a transponder or radio.  The Goddard cable has 12V power leads.
  
  

Specifications:

• ACD-57: 61.5 x 61.5 x 25 mm, ca. 140g