Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013 - 26

PILOT’S GUIDE

COMBINED VISION 2012
B Y K E N E L L I O T T O F J E T C R A F T C O R P .

o longer just a concept, combined vision systems, or CVS, are being implemented today in new aircraft platforms. The two primary players are Rockwell Collins with its Bombardier Global Vision Pro Line Fusion and Honeywell with its Gulfstream PlaneView cockpits. Other aircraft and avionics manufacturers are rapidly developing and incorporating versions of vision technology to meet a market niche. As pricing allows, combined vision, or CV, will migrate into smaller and aftermarket cockpits. The intent of CV is to conduct flight and surface movement operations in low-visibility conditions with or without operational credit. CV currently may consist of various combinations of four converging technologies integrated to a degree where the whole may exceed the sum of its parts. Table 1: Below are the four CV technologies.

EVS SVS HUD HDD

Enhanced Vision System Synthetic Vision System Heads Up Display Heads Down Display

External real-time imaging using vision sensors, such as multispectral, infrared and multi-millimeter wave. Computer-generated imaging using aircraft altitude, attitude and current position. “Out the window” cockpit optical display system. Flat-panel cockpit displays or electronic flight bags.

Because of the visibility challenge, EVS systems are expanding from the use of infrared into the ability to view a wider bandwidth of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared, for example, cannot see through pure cloud, and millimeter wave is restricted to shorter range capability. Multispectral cameras are intended to include and resolve for the best view of the visible/invisible in an airport environment. Versions of these four technologies have been in the marketplace for a number of years, but a combination of innovation, physical parameters and integration are providing benefits beyond what each alone can provide. The most powerful part of this jigsaw, however, is the enabler – Federal Aviation Administration guidance material. Having the guidance material at hand provides the incentive for product developers to innovate and populate their results into the aviation community. An example of this is the focus of Rockwell Collins to display SVS on a HUD and then seek stand-alone operational credit. Or, Honeywell seeking the same integrated on the same display with EVS and yet without a HUD. In 2010, the FAA issued Airworthiness Circulars AC20-167 and AC90-106, one which provides minimum standard airworthiness criteria. The other is used for operational certification. These documents do not dictate the technology, but rather a set of minimum performance standards that a technology or combination of technologies must meet. Further relevant FAA documents are DO-315A EFVS completed, DO-315B SVS and DO-XXXX 300-foot RVR approaches, both in work via the RTCA SC213 committee.

- 26 -

Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pilot's Guide to Avionics 2012-2013