Delta Air Lines is expected to select a head-up-display (HUD) system for its Boeing Next Generation 737 fleet by early November, as the leading manufacturers scramble to respond to the airline's request for proposals (rfp).
Delta is the first of the US majors after Southwest Airlines to opt for HUDs, and the competition could trigger the widespread introduction of the technology throughout the US airline industry. Although aimed at meeting a Category IIIA landing requirement, the Delta competition is also expected eventually to lead to the use of hybrid HUD/automatic-landing systems for Category IIIB landings.
This route has been resisted by most of the aircraft manufacturers until now, particularly Boeing, which has adopted dedicated automatic-landing systems for its products. Recent advances in HUD technology and growing customer acceptance of the system in civil applications have made Boeing re-think its policy, however. Delta's rfp is therefore widely interpreted as a pre-emptive move to push Boeing towards the hybrid HUD solution.
Collins-owned Flight Dynamics and the UK's GEC-Marconi Avionics are contesting the Delta deal, which would initially cover up to 70 737-800s on order. The winning system is expected to be fitted on the remainder of the airline's jet airliner fleet. American Airlines has not issued a formal rfp, but is watching the competition closely and is believed to be considering a similar system for 75 737-800s it has on order as well as for retrofit into other aircraft in its fleet. The other major commercial HUD maker, Sextant Avionique, is understood not to be bidding for the Delta deal despite having a system in operation and certificated for the 737.
Flight Dynamics is producing HUDs for Southwest and Alaska Airlines 737s, and is tipped as favourite in the competition with its head-up guidance system. GEC-Marconi, however, is promoting a version of the HUD 2022, a lightweight HUD in the early stages of development for business aircraft with partner Honeywell.
The US manufacturer is not directly supporting the commercial HUD venture, saying: "We have to put our engineering resources on other projects to support the business we already have".
Source: Flight International
