Innovative Design Increases Reliability and Performance
For the fourth time, Honeywell, has been selected to provide
components for China's new C919 commercial airliner. The New
Jersey-based company's inertial reference and air data systems are
among recent selections made by Commercial Aircraft Corporation of
China, Ltd. (COMAC) for its new single-aisle jet.
The Inertial Reference System will provide the aircraft's
fly-by-wire system with location data, enabling precision
approaches and highly accurate positioning during flight, along
with more direct routing and flying precise satellite-based
navigation approaches. Earlier this year, COMAC also selected
Honeywell's auxiliary power unit, flight controls, wheels and
brakes for this new airframe.
"Honeywell's navigation system is a clear industry leader with
proven performance on a variety of air transport platforms," said
Mark Howes, president of Honeywell Aerospace, Asia Pacific. "With
our proven track record on aircraft flying international routes,
this level of performance and reliability is the industry standard
our customers want."
The air data system meets all requirements for Reduced Vertical
Separation (RVSM) operation, and is configured with existing
Honeywell Air Data Modules. "The Honeywell LASEREF VI has 50
percent less volume and 30 percent less weight and power
consumption than similar systems," Howes said. "These improvements
in weight and power reductions will drive lower fuel consumption
over the life of the aircraft."
C919 Artist's Rendering
Honeywell says the LASEREF VI Inertial Reference System is an
all-digital, high-performance Ring Laser Gyro system designed to
enable more precise landings and reduce both operational and
maintenance costs. The system contains a patented automatic mode
control and Align-in-Motion technology, which eliminates
complicated control devices in the cockpit, improves safety, and
reduces training costs for crewmembers. The LASEREF VI Inertial
Reference System has a proven reliability of more than 40,000 hours
mean time between failures. The air data modules have a proven
reliability of more than 500,000 hours mean time between failures.
"Honeywell customers are flying more than 50,000 laser inertial
reference and air data systems today," Howes said. "COMAC selected
the Honeywell system not just for reliability and operations
savings but because the experience is unmatched in the
industry."
The LASEREF VI provides 100 percent availability for Required
Navigation Performance (RNP) 0.1, which allows the most accuracy
available today, enabling advanced Air Traffic Management (ATM),
meaning more flights and better routing. The system can withstand a
total loss of Global Positioning System (GPS) signal for more than
seven minutes without exceeding the tightest RNP 0.1 integrity
requirements. The Air Data System measures critical air data
parameters and provides information for cockpit display and to the
flight control and flight management systems.