American Airlines expects an "imminent" response to its request for proposals (RFP) from head-up-display (HUD) system manufacturers. The move follows the Delta Air Lines selection of a Flight Dynamics head-up-guidance system (HGS) for its Boeing Next Generation 737 fleet.
The RFP covers HUD installations for 75 Next Generation 737s on order by American, with possible extensions to other fleet types pending analysis of early operating experience with the 737 fleet.
The airline cautions, however, that, despite issuing an RFP, it has not yet made a formal decision to go ahead with any HUD procurement. American technical pilot Brian Will says: "We are proceeding expeditiously and once the RFPs come back, we intend to press aggressively ahead." A final decision will have to made imminently, because the first 737s are due for delivery from Boeing in January 1999.
Delta, meanwhile, has selected the Flight Dynamics HGS for 70 Next Generation 737s on order, but says publicly: "We are not in a position to announce anything yet." Like American, Delta is expected to use the 737 decision to spread the use of HUD technology throughout its other fleets. Although its initial intention is to meet a Category IIIA landing requirement, its eventual aim is likely to be the development of hybrid HUD/automatic landing systems for Cat IIIB landings.
Will says that American's HUD investigation has covered a broader scope than simply landing minima. "We have tried to see what impact it would have on other aspects of the operation, ranging from tail strikes and hard landings to runway incursions-I think you're starting to see the proliferation of HUDs in the civil-aviation environment and, once that happens, all the other possible benefits will start coming in," he adds.
GEC Marconi, another major player in the contest, along with Sextant Avionique, is bidding strongly for the American deal, having lost Delta. No reasons have been revealed publicly for the loss.
Source: Flight International
