In six months, the transition to free flight has progressed ten years, says Clay Jones, vice-president and general manager of Rockwell Collins Air Transport division.
Speaking at the show, he says: "A lot has occurred since I spoke in Singapore about the transition to free flight. I said then it could take 20 years to affect all aspects of aircraft operations. I would now cut that time in half."
Jones points to changes, both technological and political, which have brought much closer the possibility of free flight.
In particular he notes the FAA decision to set up an agency to look at bringing in free flight by the year 2010; and the recent decision by the White House to relax restrictions on the use of global positioning systems (GPS).
On the technological side, Jones insists that ongoing trials of the components for free flight are demonstrating that the technological hurdles are being overcome.
Technology demonstrations of satellite-based air traffic management in China and tests of differential-GPS, MLS and ILS approaches at Munich and further differential GPS landings by Airbus in Toulouse this year are evidence of maturing technology.
Collins is positioning itself to take advantage of the move to free flight and backs its claims with a raft of announcements at the Show.
Its multi-mode receiver (MMR) has been chosen by Airbus to be the first to be certified for forward production aircraft.
Two months later Boeing will certify the Collins MMR on a Maersk Air 737-700. Boeing plans to offer the Collins MMR as standard on the 737, 757 and 767 and optional on the 747 and 777.
Source: Flight Daily News
