Honeywell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding system has secured industry approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for use on the Boeing 737 Next Generation airliner, which is the first aircraft approved to operate this technology in the continent.
Primary benefits for airlines deploying the system is that it is easy to install through flight-deck modifications and upgrade the Honeywell Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System. This upgrade enables airlines to seek funding from Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR), which enables operators to receive grants toward the cost of implementing the system on their fleets.
Honeywell Aerospace vice-president for global sales Mike Beazley said: “Reducing the occurrence of runway-related incidents and accidents is the industry’s greatest safety challenge today.
“Our SmartRunway and SmartLanding system addresses global safety concerns on runways by offering customers greater protection against multiple runway incursion and excursion risks during taxiing, takeoff and landing.”
The most frequent type of accidents in the aviation industry are runway excursions, with an average of one airline incident each day. These systems may help pilots to improve situational awareness and identify potential safety risks during takeoff and landing. The system advises and warns flight crews of potentially unsafe conditions so they can mitigate accidents such as runway overturns, veer-offs or use of incorrect runways.
Airlines may also benefit from lower insurance premiums by proactively decreasing the risk of runway accidents.