Rockwell Collins’ electronic Engine Control Unit improves propulsion efficiency for light aircraft engines

Rockwell Collins’ new electronic dual-channel Engine Control Unit (ECU) will be featured on the Rotax 912 iS piston engine for Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). This ECU, which is the first that meets aerospace design assurance standards for certification in the LSA market, was announced at a launch event today at the BRP-Powertrain factory in Gunskirchen, Austria, an affiliate of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). The Rockwell Collins ECU is a fully automatic, redundant and tested engine control system that reduces pilot workload and delivers optimized engine performance. The ECU automates manual tasks such as adjusting air/fuel mixture and controlling exhaust gas temperatures. The ECU enhances flight safety by continually monitoring engine and control system health, and detecting and mitigating potential faults and failures. Certification by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the Rotax 912 iS piston engine is expected later this year.