On the Record with
FRANK DALY, PRESIDENT, HONEYWELL COMMERCIAL ELECTRONICS SYSTEMS

Combination of the Honeywell and AlliedSignal avionics powerhouses will likely provide "the missing link" that has so far stalled development of "free flight" for the world's airlines.

That's the belief of Frank Daly, president of the new commercial electronics systems division that combines Honeywell's skills in development and integration of cockpit navigation, flight management and communications systems with AlliedSignal's expertise in integrated hazard alert, situational awareness and aircraft electronic systems.

"In the two months since the merger we have found we are highly complementary with very little overlap," Daly told Show News. "Now we have a full portfolio, and I'm sure we'll see even further integration of airborne and ground avionics and aircraft systems."

Daly, a self-professed "avionics nut," believes there is almost nothing the merged company cannot do in linking the "electronic airplane" with intelligent air traffic and airport systems. The question is rather more: What does the customer want?
"We're here at Asian Aerospace to listen, and to reassure customers that we are absolutely dedicated to their needs. There's a concern that size will lead to suppression of competition, but nothing could be further from the truth. We don't want to dictate the avionics of the future."

But Daly is well aware that the merger with AlliedSignal can complete the "missing link" in Honeywell's vision of World Nav, where the self-monitoring, self-reporting airplane would interract and communicate automatically with an equally intelligent air traffic and airline infrastructure system. If customers want it, he believes Honeywell will go ahead with helping to fruition the last major breakthroughs in making airliners more efficient.

"Fuselages are round, wings are swept. But real advances can be made in avionics to enhance the utility of the airplane," he said.

Daly is convinced Honeywell must take a position of leadership among the airlines, the industry, advocacy bodies and agencies such as ICAO to make World Nav a reality under any of its names, such as "free flight" or CNS/ATM.

He is also convinced that now Honeywell has the power to make it happen, it also behooves it to work not only its own technology but also on open systems that encompass other competitors and standards such as Arinc. "Honeywell must participate and lead ­ and I don't mean coerce," he said.

To a small extent Honeywell has already shown this leadership in helping develop standards for air and ground equipment for differential GPS landing systems, allowing airlines to participate without necessarily choosing Honeywell equipment.
"The world needs to define a free flight system that will work. Now we have the technology to develop it," Daly said.

Honeywell is meanwhile working apace on distributed systems for airliners, as well as winning new applications for the Primus Epic "nerve system" for regional and business aircraft and helicopters. Primus allows any mix of avionics to be integrated in the cockpit.

At the big end, Honeywell intends to develop avionics products to provide a "total aircraft information system solution" for airliner customers. The system will process, manage, transmit and receive all digital communications signals from the cockpit, while making possible new products for the cabin in-flight entertainment system, such as e-mail and Internet access for the flying passenger.