Сan modern technology revolutionise aviation industry?

In aviation, one of the most risky areas of the flight operations is Landing in the Reduced Visibility Conditions. Generally, onboard computers and automated navigation systems are used to land in reduced visibility, fog, etc. But don’t forget, that computers tend to have “system errors” once in a while, which could lead to the unlucky events as on the picture below (auto-land computer failure, resulting in aircraft skidding off the runway). So, what do we have out there to improve our self-navigation-awareness and not to rely so heavily on the flight & navigation computers?

 

 

Currently, only small dozen of airports are equipped with Automated Landing Systems (ILS CAT III), and these are usually used by a scheduled airlines, operating heavy airliners. In General Aviation (private aviation) companies tend to use smaller, less-congested airports, that often do not have automatic landing systems. Some of these airports even operate only during the day hours, in order to provide the essential visual control of the approach & landing. Most demonstrative examples are Alpine airports Innsbruck (LOWI), Samedan (LSZS), Sion (LSGS). Crews have to go through additional training, prior to operating to these airports. There are higher levels of stress and lots of attention put into navigating between the mountains. Generally speaking – it’s a hard job.

 

 

But what are the ways to make the job more easy-going, and also safer?

One of the solutions is Enhanced Vision System aimed at improving the capability to execute precision and non-precision approaches and safely land, taxi, and take-off in fog, rain, snow, and other reduced visibility conditions thereby increasing safety and reducing flight operation weather impacts.

Currently, such systems are manufactured by Rockwell Collins, Elbit Systems, Astronics and Cirrus Aircraft (exclusively for Cirrus aircraft only). Such systems can be installed on any aircraft, ranging from turbo-prop to heavy jet (including even heavy airliners). Pilots can descend up to 100 feet above the ground in zero (!) visibility, and so-called “minimums” (decision height) is reduced to an absolutely minimal amount (without airport being equipped with auto-land capabilities). I believe that this is just awesome. We’re pushing the limits of the weather  / visibility conditions to the bottom, allowing safer and less-risk aviation operations. Isn’t it great?

And we are also saving the animals, while they are having a relaxing midnight walk to the nearby-forest for some food, like this lovely deer on the picture below!

 

 

But here is more. A group of aviation professionals have decided to go beyond the Enhanced Vision / Night Vision concepts, and came up with Augmented Reality for aviation. The company Aero Glass is currently developing a concept of a unique turnkey solution addressing the pilot’s need to properly visualise terrain, navigation, traffic (ADS-B), instrument, weather, and airspace information with access to vital safety procedures and protocols, without the requirement of inspecting instruments, phone or iPad. Aero Glass is the first to bring Augmented Reality to pilots providing an unparalleled 3D, 360° experience in the cockpit, regardless of the visibility.

 

 

Nevertheless, there is some criticism on Augmented Reality coming from Ben Lang @ Road To VR – world’s largest independent news publication dedicated to the consumer virtual reality industry, stating that “all these technology developments are no more, than a fancy mobile apps, absolutely useless, with a real product not ready to hit the market yet”. But the most controversial statement has came from the FAA:

“Augmented Reality require large investments in infrastructure and supporting equipment, making adoption of these technologies on transport airplanes unlikely.”

What do you think – will augmented reality and other hi-tech developments revolutionise our industry, or we’ll be stuck for long with what we have now?

Author: Victor Rudnov