Barco, a world leader in visualization solutions, announces that long-term customers Beriev Aviation Company and the Institute of Aircraft Equipment (NIIAO) have chosen to equip their upgraded Beriev BE-200 amphibious aircraft with new Barco cockpit display products. Each Beriev BE-200, six of which have already been ordered by the Russian Ministry of Emergencies, features a full glass cockpit solution comprising six brand-new MFD-2068 Multi-Function Displays and two customized Barco Control Display and Management Systems (CDMS-3000). All the displays come with Barco's unique Modular Open System Architecture (MOSArt) and meet the rigid standards of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Barco's avionics division has been providing the Russian aviation industry with high-grade avionics display units for many years. Since 2002, its CMDS-2MT and MFD-1-6/8 displays have been the standard cockpit solution for the Beriev BE-200 amphibious aircraft, amongst other Russian planes. Initially designed by the Beriev Aviation Company for fighting forest fires, the Beriev BE-200 is unique in that it can scoop up a total of 12 tons of water in 14 seconds while skimming the water surface. The multi-purpose aircraft can also be configured as a freighter or as a passenger aircraft - allowing transportation of up to 72 passengers.

Over the past few years, aircraft builder Beriev and NIIAO, integrator of the cockpit system, have been actively conducting the certification of the Beriev BE-200 aircraft according to EASA standards, which are considered the strictest in civil aviation worldwide. As of today, Beriev has received a limited EASA certification. The company intends to upgrade its certification by installing the new Barco display units, designed in accordance with the EASA standards.

Barco´s cockpit displays were selected for their outstanding quality and for the availability of the open MOSArt software. The upgraded aircraft features six brand-new MDF-2068 display units, composed of a sun-readable, 6 by 8 inch screen as well as a powerful processing unit, in a single box. Aboard are also two Barco CMDS-3000 Control Display and Management Systems, in a customized version. The display units combine high brightness and contrast with compact dimensions, low weight and excellent energy efficiency. The displays come with the unique MOSArt suite. A unique asset of Barco's avionics displays concept, MOSArt allows NIIAO to integrate its own applications, such as flight display or flight management displays, on the Barco platform.

Besides the high performance standards of the systems, the close partnership between Barco and NIIAO was another argument for the latter to reconfirm its trust in Barco.

The Russian Ministry of Emergencies ordered six EASA-certified Beriev BE-200 planes, which will be shipped out in the coming months. Market research has shown that EASA certification will be a major step forward to marketing the Beriev amphibious aircraft worldwide, thus providing governments with an efficient tool to fight bushfires.