ALLIEDSIGNAL IS studying an integrated safety system for airliners which would combine into a single unit individually packaged systems such as the ground-proximity warning system (GPWS), Mode S transponder, weather radar and the traffic-alert and collision-avoidance system (TCAS).
The safety-system concept, although "still in the very earliest stages", according to AlliedSignal research fellow Howard Glover, is similar to the Honeywell-developed aircraft-information management system developed for the Boeing 777.
The integrated hazard-avoidance system (IHAS) is described by Glover as a logical "stepping stone" to the goal of creating an enhanced situational-awareness system (ESAS).
"We've looked at the feasibility of integrating them into a single module, and we know it can be done. There's a lot of interest from the airframers in this because it simplifies their relationship with the vendors," says Glover.
A two-step IHAS evolution is envisaged, with IHAS I combining enhanced GPWS, Mode S, TCAS and weather radar, and IHAS II building in later advances such as clear-air-turbulence, wake-vortex and volcanic-ash detection.
"One of the biggest challenges is to integrate the X-band weather radar with the other systems," says Glover, adding that IHAS will be aimed at "new-build" aircraft from the most recent Airbus types and the Boeing 777 onwards.
Glover believes that all IHAS will be capable of generating its own safety benefits through "smart alerting". Under this concept, each of the previously independent components can "know" what the other boxes know and therefore provide greater protection.
The company estimates a prototype IHAS will be ready for testing in 1998/9.
Source: Flight International
