Southwest Airways is rolling out new know-how in its Boeing 737 fleet. The objective? To make takeoffs and landings safer.
Southwest Airways is rolling out new know-how in its Boeing 737 fleet in hopes of constructing takeoffs and landings safer.
“Site visitors doubles each 15 years…it’s actually seconds from catastrophe…We have now a really secure system, however we’d like new applied sciences to maintain that security stage,” defined Thea Feyereisen, Distinguished Technical Fellow with Honeywell Aerospace.
That’s why Feyereisen and her staff developed a brand new software program known as “SmartRunway SmartLanding,” which is designed to assist pilots reply quicker, smarter and safer on the tarmac.
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A simulated cockpit alert shows “Site visitors on Runway,” exhibiting how the system warns pilots of potential hazards. (Honeywell / FOXBusiness)
To provide an concept as to how this works — take into consideration the alert system that a whole lot of vehicles these days have, warning drivers in the event that they’re drifting too shut to a different automobile.
The software program does one thing related for pilots, warning them in the event that they’re about to line up on the improper runway or are available too excessive on the touchdown.
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“SmartRunway SmartLanding is known as a third set of eyes within the cockpit,” stated Feyereisen. “It is nearly as in case your co-pilot stated, ‘Hey, you are lined up with a taxiway as an alternative of a runway.'”
A view from the cockpit window of an plane positioned on the tarmac, prepared for runway security testing. (Honeywell / FOXBusiness)
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Southwest Airways has already put in the tech on greater than 700 of its Boeing 737 fleet.
“Security is on the coronary heart of every thing we do at Southwest… Honeywell’s SmartRunway and SmartLanding software program will present our pilots with enhanced situational consciousness to make sure the best stage of security whereas working on runways all through the community,” the airline stated.
The airline was already rolling out the know-how when shut calls at U.S. airports made headlines earlier this yr.
In March, a Southwest flight in Florida tried to take off from a taxiway as an alternative of a runway. A month earlier than that, one other Southwest jet narrowly averted a collision at Chicago Halfway.
The nostril of a Honeywell check plane, typically used as a simulated impediment on the runway. (Honeywell / FOXBusiness)
“We need to be preventative relatively than reactive and that’s actually what Southwest is doing right here… they’re not ready till they’ve an enormous accident,” Feyereisen stated.
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Honeywell’s staff can be engaged on new software program dubbed Floor Alerts (SURF-A). It’s being examined and anticipated to be licensed on industrial air transport plane in 2026 pending regulatory approvals.
The software program makes use of GPS knowledge, Computerized Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast tools and superior analytics to provide pilots direct audio and visible alerts of potential runway site visitors.
