Rockwell's Surface Guidance System Seen as Reducing Runway Incursions

Local business and general aviation airports are never busier than when NBAA's in town. That'll be the case this week in New Orleans, and a visitor to the Rockwell Collins booth in the Convention Center might just find a solution to the problem of airfield congestion and runway incursions.

Being developed as an upgrade to head-up guidance systems (HGS) sold by Rockwell Collins subsidiary Flight Dynamics, the Surface Guidance System (SGS) could reduce the 60% of runway incursions that are the result of pilot deviations, as well as many of the 15% that are due to controller errors, according to Portland, OR-based Flight Dynamics.

"The next generation of product we're looking at is the Surface Guidance System," Rockwell Collins president Clayton Jones told Show News. "We believe in the near future we'll introduce that product as a growth add-on to existing head-up displays."

Flight Dynamics is working with Jeppesen Sanderson and Smiths Industries to develop an SGS demonstration system, which would be fielded in an air transport aircraft for system evaluation, but would have future application in business aviation. SGS would be integrated with the aircraft's flight management system and its navigation database to display ground guidance, standard taxi paths, runways, taxiways and terminal facilities.

Rockwell Collins may not have much SGS hardware to display at this year's show, but it will certainly be there in force with its Pro Line 21 avionics platform. Certified on the Cessna Citation CJ2 a couple months ago, and on the CJ1 earlier this year, the system-based on an open architecture-brings advanced capabilities to the flight decks of business jets. It was also chosen last year by Bombardier for its under-development, super-midsize Continental.

For this year's NBAA, Rockwell Collins will introduce a retrofit program based on its popular Pro Line 21 avionics suite. Pro Line 21 Continuum is aimed at an older generation of flight decks on aircraft like the Hawker 700, Falcon 20 and 50, Challenger 601 and Gulfstream II. Ted Fuhrer, VP and general manager of Rockwell Collins Business and Regional Systems, estimates that about half of the aircraft in the business flying fleet are candidates for the retrofit.

Something else new for Rockwell Collins at this year's show is an even more advanced Advanced Flight Deck, which was introduced at last year's show. The main improvements are the addition of ground terrain profile renderings, electronic aeronautical charts rendered from a Jeppessen product, and graphical weather radar. The Advanced Flight Deck simulator Rockwell Collins is displaying at New Orleans will be upgraded with the new systems.

With e-commerce being arguably the key business tool in aerospace today, Rockwell Collins will be at NBAA to discuss its recent efforts to bring efficiencies to its manufacturing and aftermarket service businesses through the use of the Internet.

Expanded e-business initiatives are underway which offer tighter alignment with suppliers and partners to provide greater value for their customers, online availability of products, Web-based order management system integrated with SAP, and sales force automation. Additional enhancements will include cyber-seminars and 'ask-an-expert' opportunities.

Conference attendees will also be able to check out Collins Aviation Services' online storefront-www.shopcollins.com-for ordering parts and inquiring about order status, checking status of repairs, directing equipment repairs to the appropriate service centers, teaming with customers in achieving optimal product performance, and viewing or downloading technical indexes or ordering technical publications. Expanded functionality will include online purchases of new and used line replaceable units, a rental/exchange program, technical training, and enhanced technical publication capabilities.

By Barry Rosenberg