Press Release
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Honeywell Provides Satellite Precision Landing System for Qantas A380
Landing at Sydney Airport
Next-Gen SmartPath System Provides Safer, More Precise Aircraft
Navigation
AMSTERDAM, March 17, 2009 -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that
Qantas Airlines has received approval by the Australian Civil Aviation Safety
Authority (CASA) to use the Honeywell SmartPathTM Ground-Based
Augmentation System (GBAS) at Sydney International Airport for satellite-based
landings on their A380 aircraft. The Honeywell SmartPath GBAS is the
next-generation navigation technology that supports precision approach and
landings using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite data and transmits
digital guidance signals to aircraft systems.
Airservices Australia, with whom Honeywell has worked on SmartPath GBAS in a
coordinated effort, has been actively engaged in the use of GBAS technology
since 1999 and has been operating the Honeywell SmartPath GBAS ground station
in Sydney since November 2006. Qantas had previously been approved to fly GBAS
approaches with their Boeing 737 fleet, recording more than 1,600 GBAS landings
in Sydney to date with precision guidance provided by Honeywell’s SmartPath
GBAS. A GBAS landing on the A380 was first demonstrated during the Airbus A380
test flight in Sydney in June 2007. Honeywell provides the Flight Management
System and 11 other products and systems for the Airbus A380.
Currently, aircraft use Instrument Landing System (ILS) technology, an older
technology with technical limitations that impact flight path flexibility and
airport throughput. ILS is also susceptible to signal interference by weather
and obstacles, including large aircraft like the A380. This can result in
significant disruptions to airport traffic and cause delays. Replacing ILS with
GBAS has been identified in the FAA's NextGen and Eurocontrol’s SESAR programs
as critical enablers for improving air traffic capacity.
“The improved safety from the accuracy and stability of the approach provided
by Honeywell’s SmartPath GBAS versus the older ILS technology is one of the
major benefits to pilots,” said TK Kallenbach, Honeywell Aerospace Vice
President, Marketing and Program Management. “A single GBAS can support landing
operations on multiple runways simultaneously, eliminating the need for
multiple ILS systems at airports with more than one runway. This new system
will reduce acquisition and maintenance cost while providing aircraft operators
and airports with safer and more efficient operations.”
Honeywell’s Sydney installation is one of eight Honeywell GBAS stations
operating world-wide, with additional installations planned at airports in the
U.S. and Europe throughout 2009.
Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Honeywell’s $12 billion aerospace business is a
leading global provider of integrated avionics, engines, systems and service
solutions for aircraft manufacturers, airlines, business and general aviation,
military, space and airport operations.
Honeywell International is a $37 billion diversified technology and
manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and
services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive
products; turbochargers; and specialty materials. Based in Morris Township,
N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London and Chicago Stock
Exchanges. For additional information, please visit www.honeywell.com.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address
activities, events or developments that we or our management intends, expects,
projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon certain assumptions
and assessments made by our management in light of their experience and their
perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future
developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. The
forward-looking statements included in this release are also subject to a
number of material risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to
economic, competitive, governmental, and technological factors affecting our
operations, markets, products, services and prices. Such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results,
developments and business decisions may differ from those envisaged by such
forward-looking statements.
Media Contact:
Karen Crabtree
(602) 365-5255
karen.crabtree@honeywell.com
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