Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

EASy Flight Deck

​​The most intuitive man-machine interface in ​an airplane.


The EASy cockpit is a smart, integrated, feature-packed avionic system. Yet the hardware is not as important as what our technicians have achieved with it. EASy represents fundamental progress towards the virtually paperless cockpit as it was intelligently designed to enable both pilots to work better together as a team.

EASy summarized

EASy is Dassault’s philosophy implemented on the hardware platform of Honeywell's Primus Epic system. Dassault and Honeywell worked closely together on the project. As the primary system architect, we concentrated on achieving a new type of man-machine interface, one that is both highly intuitive and interactive. This is a vital key to improving situational awareness.​

As for Honeywell's side, the Primus Epic system brought tremendous advantages in reliability, spares availability, and display quality. Honeywell adapted this basic hardware system to meet our uniquely demanding objectives.



Stepping into an EASy cockpit, the first thing one sees is the four 14.1” screens. These screens can clearly display all information from aircraft sensors affecting systems, communications, navigation and flight management.

Moreover, they are the key to the pilots' control over all those functions. And it is in this respect that EASy sets itself apart from other avionics systems using the same Primus Epic platform.

Dassault’s Cursor Control Device (CCD) is the pilots’ primary means of controlling the EASy flight deck. Everything can be done with Windows-like pull-down and pop-up menus using the trackball controller. Each pilot has their own CCD located on the pedestal where one's inside hand naturally falls in its relaxed position. The CCD is as easy to use as the mouse on a PC. In addition to the trackball, it includes fingertip controls for display switching and menu selection, plus a multifunction knob and push-to-talk.

Using the CCD is fast and intuitive. Unlike a keyboard, the CCD is hardly affected by changing environmental conditions, such as darkness or turbulence. With the CCD, pilots control every function faster, more accurately and without diverting eyes from the panel (as would be necessary with keyboards mounted on the pedestal). The result is more head-up time and therefore a safer flight.

By making the system more intuitive, more interactive and more adaptable to pilots' needs, Dassault has brought a higher level of situational awareness to the cockpit of the business jet.​ ​

EASy Architecture and Functions

The EASy cockpit’s four 14.1” screens (landscape orientation) are arranged in a ‘T’ configuration. The system includes two CCDs (Cursor Control Devices) and two MKBs (Multifunction Keyboards) on the pedestal.

The two outboard Primary Display Units (PDUs) are situated directly in front of the pilots, dedicated to short term information. They provide all tactical information essential to piloting the aircraft. Their traditional PFD presentations are permanently accompanied by engine parameters, aircraft configuration, and CAS messages (Crew Alerting System).



The two inboard displays (Multifunction Display Units or MDUs), are stacked vertically in the center of the instrument panel to be visible and accessible to both pilots. The MDUs are configurable to display pilot-selectable strategic information. Typically the upper MDU is used to control and display navigational functions, while the lower MDU handles FMS, systems pages, checklists, and so on.

Automatic Checklists

One of the best demonstrations of EASy's interactive qualities are the automatic checklists. As soon as a required action has been performed (such as setting flaps for takeoff), EASy's autosensing feature checks that item off, changes its color from blue to green and opens the next item on that particular checklist. It also provides secure options to override or defer any item. EASy checklists are linked to synoptic system displays. For example, when the pilot reaches a fuel-related item on the checklist, a fuel-system diagram pops up adjacent to the checklist window. This shows the real-time position and operation of pumps and transfer valves along with a graphic depiction of fuel quantities in each tank.

Graphical Flight Planning

EASy makes flight planning intuitive because it is graphically based. Either pilot simply clicks on an icon depicting the phase of flight (initialization, climb, cruise, descent), which brings up the associated menus. Compared to previous systems, EASy requires very little data entry as most of the information is already stored in its databases. For example, a complete worldwide database has all the data for airports, airways, navaids, radio frequencies, etc. The complete aircraft performance database is also stored in the system. So EASy can automatically calculate everything from takeoff performance (runway length and V-speeds) to climb schedules, fuel reserves and landing distance.

As the flight progresses into each new phase, EASy displays whatever new information is required, appropriate or desired (pilot options are always available). For example, upon descent the system's look-ahead display can show the approach transition, STAR, runway data and so on. If ATC changes the arrival, either pilot can update the flight plan in a matter of seconds just by clicking on that window's ‘Current Settings’ and making the appropriate menu selections. Other windows can simultaneously display the digital ATIS information as well as key performance information such as landing weight, required vs. usable runway length and approach speed.

Navigating the EASy Way

With the EASy system, the upper MDU is usually assigned to navigational functions. A large variety of data can be selected (or hidden) on the map display, ranging from airports to radar. In mountainous areas, terrain information is usually displayed for departures and arrivals. Pilots can range in or out as required, and select map rotation (either ‘north up' or ‘heading up’).

By simply clicking on any facility or waypoint, pilots call up a pop-up menu giving access to any required information or function.

Cockpit of the Future

Our aim with the EASy cockpit was to create an environment which promotes intuitive flying and increases the pilot’s situational awareness. Thanks to the track ball and easy-to-read screens, a pilot can easily maintain a heads-up attitude, increasing perspective and situational awareness.

A pilot’s sense of surroundings, inside and outside of the plane, is essential to safe and comfortable flying. This is why we are dedicated to developing advanced technologies designed to maximize a pilot’s capabilities and performance.

The latest generation of our award-winning EASy avionics suite represents a major upgrade. Based on improvements in technologies, as well as feedback from operators, it now includes new features and options to further enhance situational awareness, safety and efficiency.​​

Falcon's EASy avionics suite is the most advanced flight deck system in civil aviation today. And EASy II adds yet more features and functionality to meet the safety needs of tomorrow's pilots.