Signs Largest ROPS Agreement By A Low Cost Carrier In South America

Airbus subsidiary NAVBLUE will provide Chile’s low-cost carrier JetSMART with the Airbus Runway Overrun Protection System (ROPS). Under the agreement, which was signed at the FIDAE Air Show in Santiago, Chile, NAVBLUE will equip 100 aircraft, including retrofit of three aircraft already in operation. As a result JetSMART’s entire A320 Family fleet will be equipped with ROPS by the end of 2026.

"As a modern airline, our strategy is to look for the best aircraft with the most up-to-date systems, and Airbus A320 Family aircraft with ROPS are clearly the best answer to our crews’ needs in terms of safety of operation,” said Estuardo Ortiz, CEO of JetSMART.

"We are proud that the ROPS system has been selected by JetSMART, this deal is a true vote of confidence in our overrun protection solution,” said Fabrice Hamel, CEO of NAVBLUE.

Runway Overrun Prevention System (ROPS) is an on-board cockpit technology which Airbus and NAVBLUE have pioneered over several years. It is an alerting system which reduces exposure to runway overrun risk, and if necessary, provides active protection. It compares remaining runway length to expected stopping distance in real time to prevent runway overrun. So far, ROPS has been installed on more than 900, single-aisle and Widebody  aircraft and many more are awaiting delivery.

Runway excursion – meaning either an aircraft veering off the side of the runway, or overrunning at the very end – remains the primary cause of civil airliner hull losses. ROPS is the only overrun prevention system certified by all leading authorities.

(Image provided with Airbus news release)

FMI: www.airbus.com