Saw this on my daily RSS feeds:

 

http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/18/toughwriter-color-cockpit-printer

 

Interesting prototype and glad to see the technology making it onto the flight deck. Can definitely see the advantages of a color hard copy on your long range routes and in your high-range corporate birds.

 

 

We have a normal portable inkjet printer and wireless internet in the King Air which is mostly used by the passengers. Otherwise all our information is put on the 15" MFD in the middle with all the same information that this prints out. Interesting idea but I think it might be behind the technology curve.

Interesting idea but I think it might be behind the technology curve.

 

Oh, it definintely is. Just thought it was interesting that it took this long to get something which can be installed and certified.

 

I think it'd be a novel idea for regional and even transcon flights. But long haul (transpac, etc) could be useful. I know you can get wx overlays in even a 172, however can the more capable systems show time lapse images? Can see the benefit of having hourly printouts on a 12+ hour flight, in color, to track system movement and strengthing/weakening over time.

 

Either way, as far as technology goes, well behind the curve of capabilities.

While the idea and product is really cool, I'm wondering what the cost is compared to B&W. Since airlines probably wont want the extra cost of color printing.

The greatest roadblock to tech advances in the realm of aviation is the extremely complex, lengthy and expensive certification process...