SmartLanding is a Cost-Effective Way to Alert Crew if Aircraft is Unstable
on Approach or is Landing Too Far Down the Runway
PARIS AIR SHOW, June 15, 2009 -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today
that it has launched a product that builds on existing Honeywell technologies
to address runway excursions that will alert pilots if the aircraft’s approach
is unstable and at risk for an unsafe landing. Improving runway safety has been
on the National Transportation Safety Board’s “Most Wanted” safety improvement
list since its inception in 1990.
“Runway excursions – when a plane travels off the runway -- cost the global
industry about $900M every year,” said Mike Madsen, Honeywell Aerospace Vice
President, Airlines. “Honeywell’s SmartLanding for airline and business
aviation reduces that risk by providing alerts to pilots if the aircraft is
approaching the runway too high, too fast or is not configured properly for
landing – common components of an unstabilized approach.”
Honeywell’s SmartLanding is a software enhancement to Honeywell’s proven
Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS), installed on more than 30,000
airline and business aviation aircraft. Through a simple software upgrade to
EGPWS, SmartLanding improves pilot situational awareness and helps break the
chain of events that can lead to a runway excursion, by providing aural and
visual alerts upon approach only if the aircraft has not met established safety
criteria.
Using Global Positioning System (GPS) data, SmartLanding alerts are based on
aircraft position, speed and flight path compared to airport runway locations
stored in Honeywell’s worldwide terrain and runway database, which has proven
itself for more than 600 million flight hours.
“With both auditory alerts and visual messaging, Honeywell’s system supports
both heads-up and quiet cockpits,” Madsen said. “A stabilized approach does not
trigger any alert, keeping the cockpit quiet.”
SmartLanding complements Standard Operating Procedures and FOQA programs to
improve safety by encouraging compliance with stabilized approach
criteria:
• Aircraft should be stable at 1000 feet above the field
• Aircraft must be stable at 500 feet above the field
• Aircraft is properly configured to land
• Aircraft is on the correct vertical path
The SmartLanding feature includes callouts for long landing if the aircraft
extends beyond a pre-determined touch down zone, together with callouts of
runway distance remaining during landing and rollout. Also included is a check
for inadvertent barometric altimeter correction errors, which continue to be a
contributing factor in Controlled Flight Into Terrain accidents and
incidents.
Honeywell International (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100
diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide
with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes
and industry; automotive products; turbochargers; and specialty materials.
Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York,
London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on
Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address
activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects,
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forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a
number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to
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forward-looking statements.
Media Contact:
Karen Crabtree
602-365-5255
karen.crabtree@honeywell.com
Honeywell
Aerospace Media Center