European Researchers Explore Fly-By-Wire Technology For GA Airplanes | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.20.25

AirborneNextGen-
10.21.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.22.25

Airborne-FltTraining-10.23.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.17.25

Sat, Dec 01, 2012

European Researchers Explore Fly-By-Wire Technology For GA Airplanes

DA-42 Is The Test Platform For The Small Airplane Proof Of Concept

A Diamond DA-42 airplane is serving as a test platform for research being conducted in Europe that could lead to the use of fly-by-wire technology in GA airplanes.

The technology has been considered to be to large and heavy for installation in smaller airplanes, but a consortium of companies including Diamond and Honeywell, along with several European research facilities, developed the necessary hardware and software to allow the technology to be adapted for light airplanes. The result was a flying prototype based on a DA-42 platform currently engaged in flight testing.

In a video produced by Euronews and posted on its website, the airplane is shown flying over the Austrian Alps performing just like an airplane with mechanical flight controls. The system was first tested in a simulator, and was designed to automatically keep the airplane out of situations the computer deemed to be "dangerous."

The system will allow the computer to overcome critical situations in the airplane without intervention by the pilot, and often without the pilot noticing that a failure had occurred.

The researchers at SAFAR, the Small Aircraft Future Avionics Architecture, say that the goal is improved safety in GA airplanes, and that manufacturers will be open to adding the technology to their aircraft as a way to boost sales. The team is already looking at ways to move beyond cruising flight to tackle the far-more-complex challenge of automated take-offs and landings.

On its website, SAFAR says it will focus on the development of a future avionics architecture for small aircraft providing easy and safe control of the aircraft. SAFAR aims at a significant reduction of pilot workload and an increase of safety during all phases of flight and ground operations incl. take-off and landing.

(Diamond DA-42 image from file)

FMI: www.euronews.com/2012/11/28/small-aircraft-smart-safety/, http://www.fp7-safar.de/

Advertisement

More News

Airborne-Flight Training 10.23.25: PanAm Back?, Spirit Cuts, Affordable Expo

Also: USAF Pilots, Advanced Aircrew Academy, ATC Hiring, Hop-A-Jet Sues Pan American is attempting a comeback. Aviation merchant bank AVi8 Air Capital, alongside Pan American Globa>[...]

Airborne-Flight Training 10.23.25: PanAm Back?, Spirit Cuts, Affordable Expo

Also: USAF Pilots, Advanced Aircrew Academy, ATC Hiring, Hop-A-Jet Sues Pan American is attempting a comeback. Aviation merchant bank AVi8 Air Capital, alongside Pan American Globa>[...]

Airborne 10.22.25: Rez Takes Plane, DJI v US Drone Ban, HK 747 Cargo Accident

Also: DHS Under Fire, Air New Zealand, ALPA Praises Bipartisan Bill, Spirit Budget Cuts The Minnesota Pilots Association has issued an advisory regarding overflights of the Red Lak>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Portrait of the U.S. Transportation Safety Institute

From 2023 (YouTube Edition): Beauty Amongst Ghastly Federal Agencies Founded in 1971 and based in Oklahoma City, the Transportation Safety Institute (TSI) is a subsidiary of the U.>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.21.25): Flight Check

Flight Check A call sign prefix used by FAA aircraft engaged in flight inspection/certification of navigational aids and flight procedures. The word “recorded” may be a>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC