Operators of aircraft equipped with enhanced vision systems (EVS) will benefit from reduced approach minima under a new rule published by the US Federal Aviation Administration. The enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) operational rule is expected to boost EVS sales, as their use was previously limited to aiding pilot situational awareness. Business jet operators will be first to benefit.
The EFVS rule allows pilots to continue a straight-in approach past decision height or minimum descent altitude down to 100ft (30m), provided the airport environment can be seen using the EVS. This represents a reduction in minima ranging from 100ft for a Category 1 landing to "several hundred feet" for a non-precision approach, says John McGraw, manager of the FAA's flight technologies and procedures division.
The rule will allow use of any sensor providing a real-time image of the outside world on a head-up display, says McGraw. Initial systems use infrared cameras, but millimetre-wave radar sensors and systems fusing infrared and low-light television images are under development. The Kollsman EVS on Gulfstream business jets is the first to be certificated. Others are under development by Bombardier and Max-Viz.
Source: Flight International
