Elbit Systems of America expects the Federal Aviation Administration to next year authorize aircraft equipped with its enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) to continue poor weather descents below the current decision height of 100ft (30m).
Roy Gentry, Elbit's president commercial aviation - Kollsman, said at an NBAA press conference that the manufacturer expects the new rule in April, allowing EFVS-equipped aircraft to continue descents all the way to the ground using the real-time images generated from the head-up display portion of the system. Currently, at 100ft, pilots are required to visually spot the runway to continue their decent.
"The FAA is working on a new rule which will be out next year to not stop at 100ft", Gentry said. "It's one of the things we're working on now to add more benefits to our EFVS".
He added that while the FAA is moving to allow EFVS-equipped aircraft to land completely relying on their HUDs, there is no matching movement so far by European regulators. "I don't know when Europeans will do it, if at all", Gentry said.
Gentry also said NetJets and FedEx are expected to "imminently" secure exemptions from the FAA that will allow them to start approaches when visibility at their destination airport is one-third below published minimums. Currently all types of operators in Europe are given one-third landing credits, but in the USA only Part 91 operators get them. With the new exemptions, NetJets and FedEx will be treated in the USA as though they are Part 91 operators even though they fall under Part 135 and Part 121.
Elbit to date has delivered 650 enhanced vision systems and announced at NBAA the 500th EVS delivery to Gulfstream, eight years after certificating its first version of the system on a Gulfstream jet.
Elbit's EVS is certificated on six models of business jets and two types of commercial aircraft. Gentry said Elbit is working on certificating the system on another four to five aircraft models.
EFVS combines enhanced vision with a HUD. While it is willing to allow EFVS-equipped aircraft to continue descents to zero, Gentry said the FAA so far has not shown any willingness to allow such descents for aircraft equipped only with synthetic vision systems.
Source: Flight Daily News
