PCAvionicsTM History

PCAvionicsTM was founded in January, 2002 by Todd Sprague, a pilot and software developer, to market and sell the MountainScopeTM moving-map software that he had started developing for his own use in 1999. The software's unique terrain features were actually the first thing developed, which Todd used during pre-flight to find safe lower-altitude routes for getting through some high Northern California mountain ranges.

Interestingly, at the time these ideas were starting to take shape, Todd was unaware of the NASA Free Flight program, which had been developing synthetic vision concepts since 1996. We are told that flyable systems for the Free Flight program actually existed and were flown.

The First Portable Terrain System
In the Fall of 2002, MountainScope went to its first airshow: Golden West. This is where the world first found out about the first portable system to do any kind of high-resolution terrain graphics aimed at situational awareness. It used red coloring to indicate terrain that is higher than the aircraft, and yellow to indicate areas where terrain will be close beneath. The interest drawn at the show was enormous, and it convinced us to take MountainScope to AOPA Expo, which was in Palm Springs later that Fall.

The First Solid-Shaded Synthetic Vision System
At AOPA Expo in 2002, PCAvionics exhibited in MountainScope the first solid-shaded synthetic vision system. It was the first to use an over/under arrangement, so the "Windshield View" was on top (looking forward), and the plan-view map was below (like looking down at a map in your lap). It also was the first to use the red/yellow coloring in a synthetic vision display.

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." -- Charles Caleb Colton, "Lacon", 1820
2002: Image from First MountainScope Brochure	2008: Image from Flight Cheetah Web Site	2008: Image from VistaNav Web Site