SureSight EVS impresses during Boeing technology demo flights

Boeing Commercial Airplanes has selected CMC Electronics to install a suite of new and emerging flight deck technologies on board the Boeing Technology Demonstrator. The new aeroplane, a next-generation 737-900, was outfitted with CMC's SureSight(tm) Enhanced Vision System (EVS), which Boeing is highlighting as an emerging technology that "allows pilots to see objects at night and in inclement weather, thus enhancing safety and potentially reducing delays."

Representatives from almost 50 airlines and a large group of media and regulatory agency representatives got the chance to view the capabilities of these new flight deck technologies in a series of more than 20 flights. Participants in the demonstration flights and especially the pilots were impressed with CMC Electronics' EVS system since it provided flight crews with excellent visual conditions at night and during all types of weather. In fact, SureSight(tm) provided the flight crew with advance warning of turbulence during night flights.

"On one of the flights", said CMC's John Barker, Commercial Aviation Marketing Manager, "a dust storm occurred just after rollout at Moses Lake. Visibility was greatly reduced and it was difficult to see the taxiways with the naked eye. The pilots were very impressed that they could see perfectly through the dust storm with the EVS. They also noted that they could see a C-17 on a taxiway that was not visible to the naked eye."

CMC Electronics is in the final stages of product integration and is on track to begin certification flight testing of its EVS in late 2002. CMC has successfully completed two sets of developmental flight trials with over 70 approaches in various adverse weather conditions. In parallel, CMC Electronics is working with NASA to define and develop primary flight displays of the future.

The CMC Electronics SureSight(tm) EVS sensor systems, which improve situational awareness and safety during all phases of flight when used with a head down display, can also be used with a Head Up Display (HUD) to provide additional guidance during approach and landing.

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