GE-Aviation announced at Farnborough that it has completed its new flight management system (FMS) software Update 10.8 for the Boeing 737 Next Generation (NG) aircraft.
The new software will be standard fit for all 737 production aircraft starting in October 2008.
In addition, GE’s FMS is part of Eurocontrol’s CASSIS project that recently carried out its first flight trials at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm.
“GE’s flight management system is an example of how we’re helping operators to fly for less as it relates to less fuel, less emissions, less weight, less noise and less through-life cost,” says John Ferrie, president of GE’s Aviation Systems.
The software update provides improved operation, increased navigation database size and supports the APB ‘blended winglet’ installation on all 737 Classic and NG aircraft.
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The FMS provides precision navigation compliant with the required navigation performance (RNP) standards, allowing reduced separation from terrain and other aircraft.
RNP approach procedures also allow the aircraft to descend to lower altitudes when flying on instruments in reduced visibility. FMS provides output of the aircraft’s four-dimensional trajectory to be used by ATC to enable integrated air-ground operations.
Eurocontrol recently initiated a series of flight trials at Arlanda to validate the utility of controlled FMS time of arrival (CTA) functionality in terminal area operations. The CASSIS project, CTA ATM system integration studies, is investigating how airborne controlled time of arrival can support future operational concepts for arrival management at airports, bringing efficiencies on the ground and for the airlines.
In addition to the 737-300 through 900 models, GE’s flight management system is currently on the US Navy’s E-6 aircraft; the USAF’s E-4s and C-130s; the UK’s C-130s; the Spanish Air Force’s C-130s and C-130 AMPs; the UK’s Nimrod 2000s; the IL-96; and the Airbus families of A320s/330s/340s. GE certified its first flight management computer in November 1984.
Source: Flight International