US REGIONAL Horizon Air has begun "improved" Category I operations into Medford, Oregon, using Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8s equipped with the Flight Dynamics head-up guidance system (HGS).
Operations to the fog-prone airport began after the US Federal Aviation Administration gave Horizon clearance to make the initial approach with reduced runway visual ranges (RVR) down to 550m (1,800ft), instead of the previous 730m limit. Decision height remains at 200ft, but the revised operating procedures allow the descent to be continued to 100ft above the touchdown zone if the approach lights are in sight.
"We'll be able to initiate approaches where before we couldn't," says Dash 8 fleet flight-standards manager Ken Jones. The $12 million fleet investment, spread over the carrier's 23 aircraft, "...will probably earn more money for us than the Category III improvements at other airports", says Jones, referring to the landing system upgrades at Seattle-Tacoma, Portland, Salt Lake City, Sacramento and Spokane airports.
Horizon will gather operational data on improved Cat I operations at Medford, and similar new procedures already operated at Boise, Idaho, before requesting FAA approval for more airports in Oregon and Idaho. As some of these airports do not have RVR equipment, but rely on visual reference, Horizon will be requesting the FAA to grant reduced clearances, down from the current 3,000ft to 2,250ft, which is almost equal to the new RVR limit at Medford and Boise.
"If the FAA would grant us that, then it will open up a whole new range of airports up to us," says Jones. Horizon, Flight Dynamics, Daimler-Benz Aerospace and the FAA are meanwhile planning further certification tests of an HGS-equipped Dornier 328. "We're looking at equipping the 328s in time for the fourth quarter of 1996," adds Jones.
Embraer is expected to select a head-up display for the EMB-145 regional airliner by the end of November. "There is a request for proposals," says Honeywell, which is offering its HUD 2020 with partner GEC-Marconi. Flight Dynamics and Sextant Avionique are also expected to bid.
Source: Flight International
