Collins Aerospace’s next-generation Enhanced Vision Sensor has been selected to be integrated into Airbus’ Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS). EFVS will become a selectable option on Airbus commercial aircraft, expanding approach capability and increasing flight situational awareness during reduced visibility conditions. The EFVS option, with the Collins EVS sensor, will be offered first on the A320 aircraft, with the intention to offer this solution on other platforms in the future.
The EFVS will use input from the Collins Aerospace sensor, mounted on the nose of the aircraft, to create an augmented reality view of the outside world. The sensor uses multiple infrared and visible light cameras to “see through” poor visibility conditions better than the human eye. When the pilots view this camera video on head-up displays, it allows them to better identify the runway environment in all weather conditions — helping pilots overcome many flight disruptions often created by fog or precipitation. In addition, because the technology enables pilots to reduce delays on the runway and in the air, it actively reduces the amount of carbon emissions created by the aircraft.
In addition, EFVS will also ease instrument to visual transition and provide enhanced situational awareness, in particular for “night Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC)” conditions, and/or terrain, as well as lateral alignment on the runway, traffic and runway surface identification.
The next-generation EVS sensor will also be available for retrofit on existing in-service Airbus aircraft.
“Universal Avionics is proud to be selected as the Enhanced Flight Vision System provider for the AS2 supersonic business jet,” said Dror Yahav, UA Chief Executive Officer. “By using the SkyLens as a wearable Head-Up Display, the ClearVision EFVS brings unprecedented capabilities to the airplane and demonstrates a compelling roadmap to the future, on top of the proven operational landing credit and all-weather operation.”
ClearVision provides an innovative Combined Vision System (CVS) displayed on the pilot and copilot SkyLens HWD, the only display of its kind certified today for commercial aviation. The intuitive avionics suite includes UA’s high-resolution EVS-5000 Enhanced Vision System (EVS) camera, composed of six sensors for a comprehensive and unprecedented multispectral coverage, and 3D Synthetic Vision System (SVS). ClearVision greatly improves crew resource management in the cockpit of the AS2, supporting Aerion’s ongoing mission of faster point-to-point travel. In addition, ClearVision offers pilots the ability to overcome degraded visibility situations day and night to move in and out of airports faster, saving time and increasing operational efficiency. With SkyLens, pilots continuously operate head-up and are able to monitor flight information while retaining 3D situational awareness of terrain, and eventually aircraft traffic, through the system’s unlimited 360-degree Field of Regard.
“We are truly excited to bring ClearVision to the highest levels of the business aviation market,” commented Marc Bouliane, UA Vice President of Business Development, Marketing and Services. “For the past year, we have worked diligently with Aerion’s engineering, flight operations and supply chain teams to refine a solution that fits the vision set forth by Aerion. We are honored to have been selected for this ground-breaking project and look forward to the production launch of the AS2 in 2023.”
ClearVision is a trusted and certified solution, flying today on a number of fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. Nearly 3,000 ClearVision EVS cameras have been fielded to date. Pilots have a discernable Visual Advantage against incandescent and LED airport lighting systems, and the compact size of SkyLens is critical for profiled cockpits such as in the AS2.
“With a proven track record of innovation, Universal Avionics has become the market leader in Head-Wearable Display systems and EVS sensors. This industry-leading technology will offer pilots of the AS2 unparalleled vision and enhanced situational awareness capabilities,” said Steve Berroth, Aerion’s Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Aircraft Development. “We look forward to our continued collaboration as we seek to change the future of aviation together.”
Aerion’s pursuit of faster point-to-point travel begins with the launch of the AS2 supersonic business jet. Designed to be inherently environmentally responsible from first flight, the AS2 is the first supersonic aircraft designed to be powered by 100% engineered synthetic fuel and reach supersonic speeds without the need for an afterburner.
The manufacture of 300 AS2 aircraft is planned for the first decade of production. The AS2 will be the first aircraft to be assembled at the company’s new global headquarters in Melbourne, Florida – Aerion Park. The state-of-the-art development – powered by sustainable technology – will incorporate headquarters operations plus an integrated campus for research, design, build, and maintenance of the company’s supersonic aircraft.
– One of many pilot-friendly features aboard the Global 7500 aircraft, dual HUD capability allows co-pilot to benefit from Enhanced and Synthetic vision for increased situational awareness
– Flagship Global 7500 aircraft redefines what is possible on a business jet with numerous innovations and the industry’s most advanced flight deck
– The Global 7500 aircraft boasts the longest range and the smoothest ride, and has demonstrated outstanding performance during its first 18 months in service
Bombardier is pleased to announce it has delivered the first Global 7500 aircraft equipped with a dual head-up display (HUD). This first-in-class capability provides additional safety and redundancy to what is already the most advanced and pilot-friendly cockpit in business aviation.
“The delivery of the first Global 7500 aircraft with a dual HUD showcases our outstanding commitment to safety,” said Michel Ouellette, Senior Vice President, Program Management and Engineering, Bombardier Aviation. “This cockpit is designed to put technology and automation at the service of the crew, rather than creating technology that the crew has to manage.”
The sophisticated HUD on the Global 7500 aircraft is equipped with Enhanced and Synthetic vision systems for optimal situational awareness. The second HUD builds on these advantages, with benefits including increased contribution from the co-pilot during HUD-assisted operations, easier switching between pilot flying and pilot monitoring as well as valuable redundancy during low-visibility approaches.
The Global 7500 aircraft is equipped with the latest Bombardier Vision flight deck, featuring unprecedented automation that remains firmly at the service of the crew. Examples include fully automatic fuel transfer and cabin pressurization management, and start-up sequences that are greatly simplified compared to those of other business jets. The unique, automated, self-diagnostic, electronic checklists ensure accuracy and relieve unnecessary manual tasks while providing full visibility to the crew. The Global 7500 aircraft’s proven fly-by-wire system is engineered to maximize safety through a design that combines pilot authority and the industry’s most complete flight envelope protection.
Complementing the safety attributes of the flight deck, the Global 7500 aircraft boasts outstanding low-speed handling characteristics on takeoff and landing, as well as the short-field performance of a light jet.
