Wired News: Virtual View Aids Plane Landings
Wired News: Virtual View Aids Plane Landings:
FARNBOROUGH, England -- Nail-biting blind landings in foul weather may soon be a lot less perilous, thanks to a new corporate jet equipment that could find its way into airliner cockpits.
The technology, known as Synthetic Vision Systems, displays a computer-generated view of the terrain ahead -- even in heavy fog or clouds, when the ground can be invisible to other advanced "vision" equipment such as infrared sensors.
Gulfstream Aerospace became the first executive plane maker to announce plans to offer an SVS aboard its jets. The deal was announced at last week's Farnborough Airshow.
Once certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, SVS will result in "more accurate tactical flight decisions by pilots and ultimately increased safety," Gulfstream said.
The Honeywell International equipment chosen by Gulfstream is a highly detailed, three-dimensional Global Positioning System satellite navigation screen for planes.